Xander's POV:

I kept my eyes on the back of her head as she stepped into my room, stopping for a moment right where the door was, setting my hand on the doorframe.

Was I really about to do this?

I felt my claws steadily extend involuntarily as my nerves began to build, guilt already taking its course.

Then it showed itself as a tightening pain in my body once I heard a familiar gasp.

I looked over towards her right as she turned her head from Khloe to me from her cage.

Surprisingly the way she looked at me wasn't full of anger, but full of panic instead.

I think it caused my hardened exterior to crack for just a moment.

I worried for a moment that she'd try to stop me.

By the look in her eyes, she knew what was happening, and I honestly had no idea what I'd do if she tried to intervene.

I needed to get this done, and preferably as quickly as possible.

So, sending her a stern look, trying to get across the message for her to stay there, I stepped in and closed the door.

There was just the faintest bit of moonlight peeking through the window, but even that wouldn't be enough for these girls to see that much.

If anything, I just didn't want Doe to see this.

Shaking my head, I took a few steps forward, readying myself as the person Khloe knew me as.

The blood-crazed, sadistic vampire.

The vampire addicted to fresh blood, and whose pet is currently unavailable...

Don't think about it. Don't think about it, just get it over with.

I slipped my clawed hands into my pockets, forcing my lips to raise as Khloe slowly turned towards me.

It seemed we both knew what was about to happen

"You know Khloe," The words came smoothly from my mouth, despite how fast my heart was racing, "I never really understood what vampires should have to drink blood from a glass when we have perfectly capable humans living in our presence."

She matched me as I took a slow step towards her, keeping our distance the same as it was.

Her audible breaths shook just about as much as she did.

I wouldn't let myself use my senses to find anything beyond that, in fear that that knowledge would cause me to stop entirely.

Stop thinking about it!

My fingers twitched within my pockets, my claws refusing to retract no matter what I tried.

It was like my body was mistaken the panic I was feeling for danger.

I couldn't imagine most vampires panicked for any other reason.

"It's always seemed like a lost cause to me you know? I mean why should we drink garbage when we could feel the rush of something alive every time?"

My chest was getting heavier by the second, but I forced myself to continue and carry myself with confidence.

"But, I guess it makes some sort of sense. I guess not being able to drink from my own pet has enlightened me on that," I added a slight laugh," it still tastes like trash though."

The girl gasped as soon as her backward steps lead her right into my bed.

She was trapped and she knew it, her figure practically shrinking as I closed in the remaining space.

I had to keep talking. If I was talking then it didn't give me time to think.

It didn't give me time to second guess myself or truly weigh the situation I was putting her in.

To think about the terror I was putting this innocent girl through.

To think about how much my brother was going to despise me for this.

But it'll all be worth it... It'll all work out.

"To be completely honest with you I'm sick and tired of drinking that shit. But still, I had to follow the doctor's orders." I stopped a single step away from her, staring down. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he say I could get what I wanted from one of my friend's pets?"

I rose my brows, wanting to see if she'd give any sort of reaction.

My cards were all on the table, so she had no doubt on what I planned on doing.

I was giving her one last chance to turn this around.

To see if she'd scream for help or try to run.

If she did, at this point, I might have just let her.

No- I need to get this done.

And luckily, she stayed where she was, whether she was frozen from fear, or smart enough to know that running in this circumstance was a bad idea.

Either way, I moved instead.

"And that dear," turning my first finger, and lifting her chin, "is why you're here."

I acted quick, using my speed to place her face-up on my bed, and bind her arms to the headboard with the closest thing I could find.

Which in this instance, was a belt.

All before returning to where I stood before.

I nearly cringed as the twists and aches in my chest and stomach all progressively worsened at the scene before me.

Khloe hurriedly squirmed and tugged at the bind on her wrist, the stench of her fear making it all that much worse.

God, I hated this.

I hated every single part of this.

I hated knowing what I was doing to her and knowing just how much resentment was going to come from it.

From all three of them.

But it would get me one step closer to getting what I wanted from Layla.

One big step closer to getting her to finally agree to be mine.

Please, let this be the last straw.

Many people react differently when nervous or stressed, and I for one was the type to laugh.

And all my jumbled thoughts mixed with the horrendous scene before me forced one out of me.

Khloe's eyes set on me at the sound, her knees curling up towards her in the only defense she had left.

I just stared at her for a moment, mentally readying myself.

There was still a chance that Nico would come kicking at my door.

If he returned any time soon and found her gone, I'm sure I would be one of the first people he'd check.

The thought of finally going through with this... taking the blood of this poor girl...

My tongue rubbed the top of my mouth.

... The thought of it made me feel like I was going to vomit.

I turned my head for a moment, aiming to look towards the door for any sign of anyone, but got caught short once my eyes locked with Doe.

Luckily, she looked to have understood my previous look, her hands clasping hard onto the bars.

Her eyes were wide with a look I didn't see too often on her.

Just like how she understood my look prior, I knew right away what her's was trying to convey to me right now.

'Don't.'

It wasn't a command, not like the one I was expecting from her, but instead it was a plea.

Which was so so much worse.

I snapped my head back towards Khloe, trying to pretend like I didn't just see what I did.

I even went as far as squeezing my eyes shut for a moment, trying to shove back any thought that told me not to do this and drag out the vampire that Khloe saw me as.

It was so much easier to do when all I had to do was talk.

Without allowing myself to hesitate any further, I slowly crawled onto the bed.

I've gotten this far.

The fact that I found her alone was a miracle in of itself.

That alone I was never expecting to happen, let alone that I'd get this far with her.

It felt like this was meant to happen.

But then why was every rational part of me screaming at me to stop? Why was the guilt already eating at me? Why was the thought of going through with it sickening when most vampires would revel at the sight of this?

At the sight of fresh blood bound beneath them.

STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. JUST GET IT DONE.

"You look like you want to say something dear," I spoke softly to the girl whose body was now caged beneath mine.

I didn't was Doe to hear.

Not when what I was doing reminded me so clearly of the first time I fed from her.

But I couldn't get the image of how she looked at me out of my mind.

Doe rarely pleaded, so why now?

Why now when the result of this could be that Layla leaves her alone.

Once I get Layla to agree to be mine then she won't need to use Doe anymore.

Right?

I focused back on the girl beneath me struggled to put words together.

"Please," She finally managed, her voice soft and hoarse, "please dont,"

I only let myself look at her for a second before quickly leaning down towards her shoulder to hide the momentary break in my facade.

"Go ahead," I began, unbeknownst to her as a plea of my own, "Beg and scream all you want. They made these walls thick for a reason

Part of me hoped she really would.

And the other hoped that somehow Nico would hear it.

He could show up and kick my ass, and then we'd be done with it.

That was certainly becoming a more favorable outcome by the second.

"M-master wouldn't want this," She croaked through her tears as if reading my thoughts, twisting her head away from me.

I just let her, and instead, paused to think

She was right.

She was absolutely right.

But since this whole impossible situation was practically handing itself to me, I knew that I had to take it.

As well as deal with the consequences that were sure to follow.

I've talked and stalled for enough time for Nico to show up and he hasn't.

At this point, I was losing hope that he was going to and starting to slowly accept the fact that I was really going through with this.

I couldn't hide this from Nico, that much I was sure of.

And at its point, I'm not even sure that I even wanted to try to.

All I hoped was that the retribution he'd give me far outweighed the guilt this was caused.

I lifted myself a bit, using a clawed finger under her chin to turn her face back towards me.

"You are very correct, little one. That's exactly why he's not going to find out."

Somehow my words caused her panic to grow.

The fear of having to lie to her master, if I had to guess.

"I'm guessing you're now wondering how you're going to be able to hide a bite mark?" I inquired.

She didn't respond, but I explained anyway.

"Well, there's a lovely little vein that trails from here," I felt her stiffen as my finger poked at the side of her knee, dragging it up and around her thigh, and just under her shirt to the top of her hip ," to here, right around your the pelvis. That shouldn't be too hard to keep hidden right?"

It shouldn't, but I'm going to make sure it is.

She didn't respond, in any way, just braced herself for this to be over and done with already.

Honestly so was I, but I had one more thing to do, to make sure that since I was doing this, it ended the way I wanted it to.

"Oh and," I slipped a finger under the front of her collar, getting a frightened gasp as I pulled her forward, "If Nico hears one word about this," I set my other claws around her throat just enough to get the point across, "I won't hesitate to rip out your pretty little throat."

I had to dig myself a deeper hole than the one I was already giving myself.

I wasn't too hopeful about Khloe's ability to keep a secret, especially when I was setting her up for failure from the start.

By the looks of it, she wasn't too hopeful either.

So, when Nico does inevitably figure this out and Khloe falls apart and tells him what happened, his anger will react accordingly.

I wanted the punishment to outweigh the sin.

No, I needed whatever Nico was going to do to me for this to outweigh everything I've put this girl through thus far

Anything to make the guilt currently consuming my entire being go away.

"Have I made myself clear?" I asked.

She quickly and silently nodded, more tears running down her face.

"Good," I breathed out, moving myself down towards the spot I had chosen.

I moved her shirt up just past her belly button, staring at a second at the currently flawless pale skin.

I leaned my head down, fangs scraping against the skin to find the vein.

With her rushing heartbeat, it wasn't very hard.

"Relax dear," I spoke to both of us, pressing down on her legs to help them there, "It's just a vampire bite."

I didn't allow myself a single second of hesitation before biting my fangs into her skin.

The cry she made and the stiffening of her body was the thing that came the closest to making me crack, but I stayed steady, shifting my head to give her blood an escape.

Almost immediately, I cringed at the taste.

Just how Doe's had been lately, hers stung with that familiar bitterness but in a way that I could still differentiate the blood type.

B-Negative was usually a more favorable blood type, and I'll admit its one I enjoy when offered it in a glass.

But the warm, still-pumping blood I was consuming right now was nothing like that.

What the hell was I supposed to tell Layla then?

To anyone else, I'm sure this blood would be of top quality.

The purr Vampires get whenever feeding from a live source started up regardless, but a few more gulps in, and the taste forced me to pull away.

"Holy shit," I cursed at myself for my reaction.

I didn't mean to stop now, I couldn't stop now.

I needed to weaken her enough for it to be noticeable.

I had to take more.

The slight movement in the legs I was holding down, made me turn my head up to meet Khloe's gaze.

Her panic was mixing with confusion at my action.

You started this mess, now finish it.

As much as It sickened me, I needed to see this to the end.

I needed this to look awful to get the reaction I wanted from Nico.

So, I improvised.

"I can see why Nico wouldn't want anyone drinking from you," Another laugh to hide my thoughts, "You have the kind of taste that he'd want all to himself."

Not another second before my fangs were back into her skin, picking up where I had left off

I forced each gulp as it came, each one threatening more and more to come back up.

For multiple reasons.

My grip tightened on her legs because of it, and I could only barely focus on making sure my claws didn't puncture her pants or skin.

With what I was doing, I guess it was only fair that I was suffering too.

Usually feeding from a live source was supposed to be borderline euphoric.

It used to be for me. Back at my home where the blood slaves were trained for this sort of thing.

Back when I didn't know the people I was feeding from.

But more and more recently, it felt like the complete opposite.

I still felt the rush of the fresh blood in my body, but now it was clouded by so much that it didn't even seem worth it.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I fought my way through it, feeling her weaken little by little until she was where I wanted her to be.

The tension in her body released, and that's when I stopped.

It took a lot to not pull back quickly, and even more so to willingly swallow the remaining blood.

Instinctually, I went to close the wound I had made, just barely stopping myself in time.

There was absolutely No way Nico was going to miss this, and I was giving him every opportunity to figure it out and know that it was me.

I rose my head to the girl who seemed to be fighting for breath.

"Now, we don't want you passing out now do we?" I asked.

She didn't give any response, her eyes set on my fangs as I also regained my breath.

I did it.... It's done.

It's finally done.

Yet that fact didn't make me feel better in the slightest.

I reached up towards the belt around her wrists.

"Nico would freak out if you were gone that long, and knowing him, he would come to me first," I'm hoping she didn't catch the hope in my voice as I pulled and her arms fell free, "And that would be a bad time for both of us, don't you think?"

She just hurriedly nodded, probably wanting to get out of here as fast as possible.

One request that I was could work with.

"Good. Now, remember, not one word to Nicolas," I pushed.

And again, another silent nod.

I caught a lack of confidence in that last one.

But, for now, I needed her out of here.

I wanted her to get back to Nico as fast as possible, so my recompense could come just as fast.

The feeling of her blood within me felt like lead, adding onto the onslaught I was already experiencing.

So, using my speed again, I lifted her and took her into the hallway.

It took everything in me to just stand against the doorframe and watch as she struggled to stand, eventually just falling to her knees.

I worried for a moment if I accidentally took too much.

I based my blood intake from what I knew from Doe.

And Khloe was a bit smaller than her.

I needed a way to get her attention real quick to make sure she could at least move.

I didn't want her to end up collapsed in the middle of this hallway.

So I forced out a chuckle, relieved by the fact that her head swiftly turned.

She should be okay...

"Have fun getting back to him," I began, readying myself to face Doe after this door shuts, "Oh, and dont worry about those files, I'll bring them to Nico myself tomorrow."

That was the last thing I said before stepping back and closing the door, hoping for her sake and for mine, that Nico comes back very soon.