Drop By Drop
Sonder & Seductions 002 | An ancient-blood vampire, a dark alley, and the strange voyeur emerging from the mist.
Trigger warnings:
NSFW 18+ Erotic Spice, graphic depictions of violence, mutual corruption/dub-con, abduction, insta-lust, cliff hanger
paranormal-inspired, sapphic, vampires, dark romance vibes, “feeding” lol
Guild Ordinance No. 13
Never offer a vampire what they can never possess.
They will spend a lifetime hunting it.
Vyola
There’s nothing like the taste of fear.
Bright and bitter, it clings to the back of my throat as she moans again. Her back heaves against my chest as I give her a taste of the pleasure I plan to wreak on her tonight.
They all think they can endure—think they can protest against the lure of my venom. I don’t even understand why they try.
What courses through my veins probably predates her entire bloodline.
In the end, they always succumb to it—to me.
Black blooded vampires are pure, not made. I’m born of the unbroken Vanta bloodline that reaches back for centuries. And given the untimely death of my last remaining relatives, I will likely be the last.
We are known for our unparalleled ability to break the mind of even the most strong of will. Though I haven’t had to reach for my compulsion abilities lately. The humans make it way too easy to lure them—to feed and to fuck them.
Especially in whatever backwards peasant town this is.
I sink my fangs in deeper, groaning into the warmth of her pulsating neck. My utility belt comes away with a tug and snap. The gold insignia clatters against the ground. I ignore it, cupping her breasts as I pull her body flesh with mine. Tonight I’m just Vyola. Not Captain of the Guard, not head of House Black—I’m just any other vampire performing what this woman wants—what they all want from me.
“Harder—” She begs, grinding into me.
“Quiet, darling—” I whisper in her ear as she lets out a whimper, “I need you to be quiet for me—can you do that?” She nods frantically, trying to pull my head back into her neck. She’d do anything I’d ask her to do right now. I latch onto her neck once more, lifting my tongue, filling my mouth with venom.
I can tell the moment it seizes her system. The temperature of her body heats, filling the air with her scent. She writhes deliciously—her entire being begging me to fan the flames my venom has ignited. So, I do.
I turn her around, cutting a fresh wound into the other side of her neck. Her back collides into a wall as I wrap her legs around my waist. I slant one hand over her mouth, baring the weight of her ass in the other. She tries and fails to keep her moans from escaping as I press into her, kneading her cunt through the sheer sliver of fabric between us.
I hush her again as she finds enough friction to whimper into my hand over and over. Usually, this would be a perfect opportunity to entertain myself with a fun little game of control—but not in this unknown town. As Head of one of the five houses, I need to be discreet. Even if these lands don’t belong to one of the five families, vampires are still notoriously possessive. There are plenty of nomads out there with no shortage of delusion. Or worse, if the Guild finds me out here, the legacy of my bloodline could be lost forever.
“Mmhhmn—yes—” Her voice turns husky as her pleasure climbs. Humans are fickle—and most often, filthy liars. They get off on the fear of my bite—the thrill of my venom, and they think that means they’re unafraid.
But the taste of terror is so potent, it chokes out any desire to be had.
Feed enough times and you’ll notice that something in the human blood shifts when their pleasure reaches its peak. Even in a single drop—desire is the most exquisite.
The most besought.
The most addictive.
Entirely Forbidden.
I told myself that the last time would be the last, but that unquenchable hunger has led me further from my territory than I’ve ever gone.
Something insatiable has been expanding inside me for months now. At first, I thought it was grief or the reluctant responsibility of becoming the Head of my House overnight. No matter how much time goes by—no matter how many women I bed or don’t bed—nothing has been able to fill that blackening hollow.
The woman grows more erratic in my arms as she bucks against me. I hold her upper body steady, pulling my fangs away from her throat. I uncover her mouth, letting her bask in the wildness of her lust. I watch her with both fascination and frustration—wishing it were that easy for me. Her breath catches as her whole body stutters. She bites into her arm, cursing again and again, but she never opens her eyes to look back at me.
“Fuck—fuck…” She finally gets out, leaning into me, mumbling into the wool of my black cloak. She throws her head back, heavy lids drunk on the very essence of me. The sheen of sweat quilting her breast glistens with every breath.
One bite—that’s all it takes for them, and they shatter into a million blissful pieces. Tonight might be the first time that I’ve even felt a whisper of satisfaction in a long time, but I’m not even close.
I’ve gorged myself on fear for years—but desire? Want? Yearning? That’s what I truly crave—what I can’t stop myself from seeking—from needing to possess.
The woman still holds me around my neck, hips making lazy circles against mine. I bury my face into her throat once more—pacing myself with slow, languid pulls.
I wait, chasing the promise of pleasure still wafting off her—inwardly begging for a drop—just a drop...
“I hate to interrupt—” The mocking lilt of a feminine voice cuts right through my sinking thoughts. “It looked like you were actually gonna get something out of that for a moment—” It continues, sounding like it comes from everywhere. “How disappointing…”
I whip around—my senses as sharp as the killing end of a blade with the fresh human blood crawling through my veins. No one in this town should be able to sneak up on me. Nothing human anyway.
The midnight mist swirls around a dark figure as the unmistakable sound of heeled boots echoes against the weary hour. Each step is clipped, measured, confident, and moving towards me.
“If you’re here to get off—find someone else to fuck—I can’t say that I’m interested in multiples tonight,” I say evenly. I don’t have the will to stomach another one-sided encounter.
The faceless voice finally emerges from the hazy fog. Leather-clad hips sway with each step of those thigh-high boots. She stops right at the edge of a dim lamp post, casting one half of her curvaceous silhouette in shadows. The lamp flickers lightly overhead, making her strange, copper-colored eyes appear ominous. Her gaze burns right through me, intense… Beautiful… Unyielding.
Perhaps I would feel a twinge of fear if I were anything else caught in a dark alley with her. But the mysterious voyeur is striking, in a way that intrigues me—in a way that has my body moving on instinct.
Widening my stance, I shift on my feet.
“Now, is that any way to treat your food?” She croons in that voice again. My mouth waters—for a moment, I mistake her words as an invitation. I follow her line of sight to the woman at my feet.
A disgraceful pile of pale limbs is splayed across the cobblestoned alleyway. I hadn’t even noticed that I let the human fall. I hadn’t noticed I took a fighting stance.
Reaching down, I rouse the meal in question. The woman stands with all the stability of a tavern-sloshed maiden the night before her wedding.
I pull her close, fixing her gaze on mine—ripping into her mind as I speak—my words just loud enough for her to hear.
“Did you enjoy watching me?” The woman scurries off with wide eyes into the night. I wait until she’s cleared the alley to continue, “Is that what gets you off?”
“Neat little trick—is that how you got her to fawn over you?”
“I have many tricks I’m sure you’d like.” I smirk, reaching for my belt, “Come closer. I’ll show you.”
“I would but—Unfortunately for you, I’m not really into the whole woman in uniform thing… Captain, is it?” She tilts her head as if her human eyes can see my insignia from where she stands. I snap my belt back into place.
“Who sent you?” It’s the only question I can think to ask.
Her soft laughter fills the alleyway in answer as she steps further into the light.
“Tell me who sent you—I’ll double whatever they’re paying you and we both can walk away from this alive.” I try again, sniffing the air—trying to find the answers in her scent, but she’s too far.
Sex and the scent of human blood are all that lingers between us.
“Your arrogance is woefully misplaced, Captain.” She tugs on the cloth covering the bottom half of her face.
I’ve never seen this woman before.
I would never forget a face like that.
Every part of her radiates beauty. From the perfectly polished bronzed of her skin to the delicate pairing of proud features on her face. Her full lips and high cheekbones look like the females in my territory. Even her skin is only a few shades deeper than my oak brown.
She’s stunning the way a flame beckons you to touch it—but even I know all too well that those who dare to walk into the fire seldom ever return.
“I’m taking you into the guild.” She brandishes a silver stake in each hand. “Now, whether it’s going to be in peace or in pieces depends on what comes out of your mouth next.”
“Your fixation with my mouth is becoming quite concerning—” I don’t even see her throw it.
“You want to try that again?” She pulls another stake from her corset, replacing the jagged hunk of silver I pull out of my shoulder.
“What do you want?” I ask, turning the silver over in my hands before tossing it to the ground. I’m impressed she can even throw those things, they’re poorly polished and misshapen.
“I want you to stop wasting my fucking time—” She hurls something else at me, but this time I catch it. “Dose yourself with that—get on your knees, facing away from me.”
I stare at the large syringe, holding the glass casing up to the dim light. Something dark and viscous fills the belly of the vile. Some kind of mirthroot compound from the smell of it.
“Under the Guild’s code of conduct, you have partaken in the dishonorable act of drinking blood from living flesh—You will stand trial before the council.” Her voice cracks
Something is off—she sounds rushed—unsure. I regard her openly trying to figure out what I’m missing. My eyes trail up her legs, lingering at those thick thighs… I remove my cloak, letting it fall to the ground as the pieces start to click into place.
“No,” I say, dropping the syringe to the ground. The catch of her breath bounces off the walls as I crush it under my thick boots. “You almost had me, you know.” I pace in place, leaving the distance between us. “I couldn’t put my finger on it at first, but it’s the boots. They’re distracting enough—especially on you, but not standard for the Watchers of Guild, are they?”
“Stay where you are, or the next stake I throw goes right between your eyes.” She points her stake at me with an unsteady hand. I watch her throat bob from here.
“You bear no insignia—and those hunks of scrap silver? They’re handmade. No manufacturing engravings to be found.” I roll up my right sleeve, “You’re not from the guild—so who are you?” I ask, rolling up the sleeve on my left side.
“It doesn’t matter who I am. You’re not walking out of this alley tonight—not before I get what I need.”
“I’ve already offered you money—and a woman like you doesn’t strike me as the type who can’t find a good lay—so that just leaves one thing.”
Blood.
I cross the distance between us in the span of a breath—grabbing her by the throat. My mouth opens wide—ready to tear the flesh from her neck.
But I freeze, loosening my grip. She doesn’t smell right.
Her blood smells stagnant—it smells—wrong…
“Yeah, the animal blood tends to dry when your prey spends all night running their gods damned mouth—” Her knee comes up, nearly knocking the wind right out of me.
Prey? Animal Blood?
My mind races.
I figured she wanted my blood—the witches hunt us for it. They use it to enhance their magic and to borrow some version of our abilities. But never has a witch ever mistaken me for prey.
Silver whistles through the air, nicking my ear as it lodges into the wall behind me. She appears on my other side faster than any human should. I grab her by the shoulder, trying to yank back the blood-soaked fabric so I can smell what she truly is.
She uses my own momentum to send me back first into a wall—I’m too distracted—but I still drag her shawl with me. Her blouse hangs open, exposing bite marks on her neck.
“Widow…” the name of the creature before me is nothing more than a breath. A myth. There’s no mistaking the tar colored wound weeping from those bite marks.
“You're smarter than the others—they never figure it out until it’s almost too late.”
“How long ago were you bitten?”
“Long enough.” She grits out as she launches for me, fangs of her own elongating in a snarl. I try to wrap her in the shawl to restrain her, but she shreds it with her claws. It was so easy to mistake her for human. And the animal blood? It must have been hiding her scent.
Widows are born half-vampire, half-human. An abomination according to the Ordinances of the Guild. Depending on how much of their parents’ vampire genes they inherit, they can be as fast and lethal as we are. Some even have abilities like us. Their only weakness is our venom. If it gets into their bloodstream, they go on a frenzy of feeding and fucking until they die of overconsumption or they get put down. It slowly poisons their brain, and the only cure is coursing through my veins.
She paces—no doubt planning her next attack.
I was raised to kill her on sight if I ever encountered her kind—but it’s not her fault she was born. Even if she is only half of what I am, she’s still one of us. A plan starts to take form in my mind.
“I’ll help you.” I offer.
“I didn’t ask you for help—”
“But you need it—”
“Do you really think I’m that naive?”
“I think I’ve let you have your fun. You have no real chance at besting me in combat—so you can let me help you, or the Guild will put you down like a mangy dog after you tear through this town gorging yourself on everything that has a heartbeat.”
My own dissatisfaction echoes through me. I know what it’s like to be hungry all the time and not be able to fill it. Still, I have other reasons why the next words leave my mouth.
“Give me an empty syringe.” I hold my hand out, but my feet stay rooted where they are.
“That was my last one.” She spits at me.
“Then come here,” I say, ripping the neckline of my collar.
“What makes you think I won’t kill you?”
I’m in front of her in a blink, catching her off guard. I grab her by the arms, slamming her into the ground—keeping her there. “This is not benevolence. If you tear through this town, you will blow my cover. My scent is already all over this place if the Guild comes here—well, I can’t have that, now can I?”
“I’m not putting my mouth on you!” She writhes, unable to break free.
“What other choice do you have?” I straddle her hips, holding both her wrists in one hand against her chest, taking her chin in the other. I force her gaze to mine. “Look at your eyes, the whites are turning black, it won’t be long now.”
“Fine—” she finally concedes, “How are we going to do this?”
“I can just use compulsion to let you feed and forget—”
“That shit doesn’t work on me.” She snides.
I roll my eyes, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “When I let you go, you will wait for my direction—you will do exactly as I say.”
I sit up, slowly releasing her wrists. She rolls our bodies, pinning my hands above my head to the ground beneath her.
“Like I said—doesn’t work.” Hunger flashes in those feral eyes as a growl rumbles in my chest.
I let her sit atop me—let her believe she has the upper hand. I’ve always performed very well. There was no need to actually use my abilities on her. The best way to trap your prey is to let them believe they have become your predator.
I struggle just enough to make it believable—an unexpected thrill zipping up my spine as I watch the planes of her face rearrange themselves more confidently.
“Do your worst.” I say, baring my teeth, “But you stop when I say stop if you want to keep your head.”
She leans down, putting her mouth against the shell of my ear, “I’m going to drain you dry and let them find your charred body at sunrise—”
She’s not gentle when she rips into my neck. Her bite is clumsy, like it’s her first time. I wince and hiss as she tries to adjust her mouth again and again. When she finally sinks into a vein, the guttural sound she makes is somewhere between a groan and a growl. Her entire body goes rigid—she leaps off me, scooting back on the heels of her hands as if I electrified her.
“Not done so soon, are you?” I smirk, coming to a seated position.
“What is that—” She points at my knitting wound. “What kind of vampire are you?”
“The best kind—” I say, leaning forward, catching her by the ankle.
I stand to my feet, taking her forearm and pulling her up with me.
“You taste—ancient.” She says, backing up. For the first time tonight, the proper amount of fear finally glazes her eyes.
I herd her into a dark corner, crowding her body with mine.
“Maybe you should know who you’re dealing with before you make those threats of yours.” I tug down the neckline of my blouse, giving her better access, “Now finish what you started.”
“I thought you were just a guard—I can’t—just let me go—” She traces the wound on her neck with her fingertips. It’s started to heal, but not enough to stave off a frenzy.
“Drink,” I demand.
She leans in, licking her lips—blazing eyes holding my own.
Her bite isn’t perfect, but she latches on better this time. The defiance in her posture dissolves on impact. Her body sways into mine, I catch her around the waist, steadying her. Warm hands find my ribs, roaming to my back. She hesitates, fingers curling into the fabric of my blouse like she wants to pull me in. I press against her in answer.
Our bodies fit flesh together. She whines deep in her chest. A sound so unique to her kind. Some hot and wet pools in my core when I hear it.
Lust slams into me—urgent and wreaking havoc on all my senses.
I shake my head—trying to focus—trying to stay in control, but as the wound heals, her scent cuts through the dried blood she smeared all over herself.
“If you don’t stop now, things will become more intimate than you want.”
She pulls her mouth away to look me in the eye. I’m surprised to find my body is in protest.
“And how do you know what I want right now?”
“You were just trying to kill me—”
“Isn’t everyone a little cranky when they’re hungry?”
“And now?” My gaze lingers on her glistening lips. “Are you satisfied?”
“Hardly.” She breathes.
I know it’s forbidden—I know that I could lose what little I have left in the world for this kiss, but I part her lips anyway, delving my tongue right in. She sucks it into her mouth, moaning around it as I wrap my hand around her throat. I drag her deeper into the kiss, every part of my body yawns to life with each swipe of her tongue against mine.
“I need to touch you…” She spills her confession into my mouth.
“Then touch me.” It’s not a performance—it’s been an age since I’ve wanted someone’s hands on me the way I crave hers on me in this moment.
She cups me through my pants, rocking me against her—teasing me—kissing me harder. Her fingers dip below the waistband of my pants, gliding past the soft tuft of hair and straight to where I’m aching for her the most. She parts pussy with deftness that makes me weak in the knees.
“Fuck—you’re so wet for me—” she drags the slickness of my desire up to clit. “Did your little human get you wet like this?”
“Getting me wet is one thing—let’s see if you give me what I really need, wicked little spider.”
The circles she strums around my clit are perfectly paced as she whispers, “I know what you wanted—what you came here for.” She tilts her head, showing me her bare neck.
“I can’t—my venom.” I try to warn her through the haze of pleasure building in my core.
“I’ve already drunk so much from you—I’ll be fine.” She moves her finger to my entrance, letting them hover there. “I want your teeth inside me while I’m inside you—” This is why they call them widows. They latch on to your very desire—feed from you fuck you, and then kill you.
But I want this—I need this. I’ve already risked so much just to feel nothing. The pure promise of her words makes my core clench with pleasure.
I rear my head back, taking exactly what she’s offering.
Her blood explodes on my tongue. Dark and sweet, filling my mouth with raw bliss. She slips two fingers inside of me—curving them at just the right angle.
She’s like nothing I have ever tasted before. A rare delicacy. Every pull from her is filled with lust and desire—there's something else there too—something I don’t have a name for. It’s just a hint of something pungent like ginger.
I’m careful not to be reckless with my venom.
She moans when it hits her. I press her into the wall, my hand fumbling at the waist of her leather pants. She drags her finger in and out of me, the rhythm fractures my mind, making me ask for things so many have begged of me.
“Harder—” I groan into her shoulder, and she sets a bruising pace.
Her hand guides mine to her slick core.
“Come with me—” I grit out—trying to savor it.
I match her rhythm, our panting breaths falling into sync.
Her eyes find mine in the riot of movements. Carnal desire blazes right into me—undoing my restraint. Her body hunches over, pulsating on my fingers with venom running through her veins. She makes that whining sound again, setting my blood on fire. I watch as she goes to her knees in front of me, tugging my pants down.
Her fingers pick right back up where she left off—teetering my release on a sharp edge. She kisses my thigh—my mound—letting her warm breath hover over me as she plunges in and out. I do not beg—I do not a whimper, and yet the word leaves my mouth anyway.
“Please—”
She sucks my clit into her mouth, humming around the sensitive nub, driving me out of my mind. Her tongue swirls and rubs, finding the right pressure—finding the perfect pace.
“Right there—just like that,” I moan, placing both hands on the wall in front of me—bracing for impact. I rock my hips into her, luxuriating with the taste of her still on my tongue. The void fills and fills as every muscle in my body pulls tight.
“Don’t stop—” I grit out, “Please don’t stop—”
My orgasm slams into me as I cry out into the night.
It hits me in wave after wave after wave.
Something inside me shifts. It’s as if that hollowed thing fills up with the taste, sound, and touch of the widow slowly rising to her feet with a shit eating grin.
“Satisfied?” She purrs
“Very…” I reply, as I fix her gaze on mine.
Scarlett
I’m awake, but I keep my eyes closed, trying to ward off the splitting headache plaguing me. My mind feels like someone beat it with a mallet.
The crackling fire fills the room with the sound of snapping wood and the subtle scent of ash. I pull the warm wool blankets tightly, tucking them under my neck. I nuzzle my nose into the scent of warm cinnamon and chamomile. The smell of her still clings to me. I relish in it.
I’ve been with plenty of women—but never a vampire before—never one with blood as ancient as hers.
It was a one-time thing. A slip-up. A mutual curiosity satisfied.
I flip onto my other side, fighting for comfort.
I have to get back to my life—back to my training as a Watcher. Last night was a really close call. I almost exposed myself.
I don’t work for the Guild yet, but I will, and soon I’ll have to arrest or even kill vamps like her. I can never slip up like that again.
Flashbacks of the night peak my nipples, sending a shiver through me. I could have killed her last night—I should have. That would be one less of them making more children they just want to abandon. One less someone who knows what I truly am.
A door creaks.
I sit up with alarm—head blaring in pain.
I never leave my doors unlocked.
The room spins as a figure walks toward me.
I reach for the dagger on the side of the bed, only it’s not there. It’s not even my bed, that much I can see now.
The spinning slows as it all comes rushing back to me.
“Satisfied?” I ask…
And then there was nothing but those crimson eyes.
It plays back in my mind in chunks.
Tell me your name…
Where are you from…
Do you have family who will miss you?
The pain of answering that question echoes inside me.
My mouth was moving and I couldn’t stop the words.
The Captain of the Guard sits on the bed next to my trembling body with a tray of food and water.
“Good evening little spider. Welcome to House Black.”
Author’s Note:
Thank you so much for reading this week’s scene from Sonder & Seductions, a series where I share the little stories swirling around in my head. Each story is a standalone; some are story seeds for bigger projects, but all of them from the heart. That’s all for now, see you next week.