Page 82 of Origins of Eternity

“Perhaps. But humans have never really needed a reason for killing one another, have they? They’d claim religion or politics. They might say he or she did me wrong, so it was for revenge ormaybe money. And yet, sometimes, it’s just because they feel like it.” Cassia shrugged a shoulder. “Now, you have not one but two new creations, and I noticed Amy staring at you this morning while you fed. I think she might be coming around. Give her a little more time, and you’ll be able to have your way with her.”

Zara closed her laptop and said, “I don’t want to have my way with her. Not like that. It’s fine that everyone else wants it – Gigi and Miranda and all the others – but if Amy doesn’t, I’m not going to push her.”

“Of course, not. And I’m not saying you’ll have to. I’m saying she will come to you herself. It’ll probably be at night in your room, and she’ll want to give you anything you want. That’s how you’ll know. Now, I have a few things to discuss with you.”

“Okay,” Zara said, placing her computer on the table in front of them.

“One, I’ve decided that I’m going to move Gigi and Miranda into the other house, which I procured with a lease this morning,” Cassia told her.

“Oh. Why?”

“Because I want you close,” Cassia replied with a smile. “They’ll take Sarah and Alexia with them. And while I’m sad to be parted from them, they’ll be a mere block away, busy with their two new creations. I thought you and Amy could stay here, along with your… other one.”

“Her name is–”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter,” Cassia interrupted her. “I suppose when we sleep together next, I might want to call out her name to make her feel good or something, so I will learn it by then.” She waved Zara off. “Is she good? Now that she’s a vampire, was it good?”

Zara swallowed and said, “We haven’t done that since she turned.”

“What? Not even this morning?”

“No.”

“Did you meet with Gigi or Miranda instead, or any of the others?”

“No,” Zara said. “I did what you asked: I called Arwen and told her I wanted to talk so that we could reconnect and she wouldn’t pull away from me.”

Cassia smiled at her and said, “Well, then, I think you need a reward.” She moved to stand. “Zara, we’re not meant to go without.”

“I had sex last night,” she replied, “And I’ve lost count how many times since we met.”

“Yes, but there are two reasons we do this. First is that it feels good. And you know my thoughts on that: we should always feel good,” Cassia said and reached for the belt on her shimmering silver robe, which was new to Zara. “I love making you feel good, and you have been without today.” She let the robe fall to the floor. “The other reason is that sex helps with the cravings. The last thing I need is you out there with Arwen, smelling her blood, how you did at work, and nearly killing the woman in public because you’re not sated in other ways.”

“I didn’t almost–”

“Make no mistake, Zara… Yes, you did. If your reaction was so strong that your fangs emerged and you had to go into a silly storage closet, you would have.” Cassia reached for her T-shirt and pulled it over Zara’s head. “It doesn’t matter how much you like or even love a person. They’re still food to us, and we’re not always capable of resisting that, no matter how much Iro tries to convince herself otherwise. I’m surprised she hasn’t bitten this Arwen yet. She put herself through hell trying to rewire her brain so she wouldn’t hurt humans, even though we don’t have to kill them. Did you know she doesn’t even drink human blood from blood bags? She wouldn’t be hurting anyone, but she insists on putrid pig and cow blood. Take your pants off, Zara.”

“We don’t have–”

“Sweetheart, we don’thave todo anything. Now, take off all your clothes and stand up. I want to reward you for all your hard work. I know it can’t be easy, what you have been through, and you have to watch Arwen and Iro in this ridiculous farce.”

Zara didn’t know why, but her body hummed, and she stood up, listening to Cassia how she always seemed to.

“Now, you wait right there. I have a surprise for you,” Cassia said and promptly left the room.

Zara removed her clothes and saw one of the humans, whom Cassia seemingly always had hanging around, walk by the room.

“Hello?” Zara said to her.

The woman stopped, turned around, and walked in.

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“Answer me honestly. You really like this? You want to give us your blood?”

“Yes,” the woman replied.

“Why?”