{"sf1_id":233265,"sf2_id":"zeRypB31","title":"Eternal Night - 5. Enter Desdemona","author":"Judah Vishas","words":1651,"posted_at":"2011-03-22T23:45:00.000Z","tags":["Blood","Canine","Feline","First Person","Fox","Gryphon","No-Yiff","Rabbit","Siamese Cat","Supernatural","Tabby","Vampire","Wolf"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/233265-eternal-night-5-enter-desdemona","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/zeRypB31","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/d3/0c/d30c56d2-f5c3-42c2-b519-5c7fe22cb68c","description":"","content":"-Luya-  \n  \nI sat at my dressing table for a solid seven hours. Everything was happening a little quickly for my liking.  \nFirst the wolves, then Giovanni, after that came the Strigoii. Already things were in the works after I'd  \nbeen running from it forever. It's like I'd been running on a treadmill and all I had to do was turn  \naround and the construction paper, scissors, and glue would be there, waiting for me to turn them into  \na plan.  \n  \nSpeaking of my materials - forgive me, they are not 'things' - perhaps it was time to go back to Arael's  \ncabin. I could even pick up a snack along the way. Finally I left my dressing table. I was in my closet  \nnow. It took no time at all to pick out an outfit. I grabbed a short, black leather dress that could be  \nmistaken for a long shirt, black and white striped leggings and mismatched boots - one thigh-high and  \nthe other that stopped at my knee. I loved this period. If I were to dress like this in my time, I'd be  \nburned as a witch or worse, branded as a ho - er _jezebel_.  \n  \nI grabbed the jacket that went with my dress and made for the door. When I opened it, I found a very  \nhandsome surprise. Standing there with his fist raised to knock on the door was Mr. Giovanni Costa.  \nNeither of us spoke. He just stood there with his mouth slightly open as if wanting to speak but not  \nfinding the words.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \"How about we ease into this with 'Hi'?\" I said, reaching out to lower his fist for him. While I still had his  \npaw, I gently pulled him into my apartment. When he still hadn't spoken, I went on. \"I completely  \nunderstand your reaction a couple days ago. Were we reversed, I'dve done the same. What I do not  \nunderstand is why you've returned.\"  \n  \n\"Your paw is cold.\" Giovanni said after a few moments.  \n  \nI chuckled and put his paw against my cheek, soaking in his warmth while he felt how cold I was. \"That  \ncomes with the territory.\"  \n  \nHe took a seat on my bed and I sat at my dressing table again facing him. Giovanni swallowed hard  \nbefore speaking again. \"I... I liked the person I met a couple nights ago. Is the person I met a vampire  \nor was that an act?\"  \n  \n\"What do you mean?\"  \n  \nGiovanni tilted his head and threw his hair back, showing me where I'd bitten him. \"I felt tired after I  \nleft, so I went to a hospital. They told me that I was short a lot of blood, then I found the bitemarks.\"  \n  \nHe'd barely finished the sentence before I spoke. \"Please tell me you didn't show them to anyone at  \nthe hospital.\" When he shook his head, I breathed a sigh of relief. \"Good.\" I said, crossing my legs.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"The person you met is a vampire. I'm sorry, you just happened to catch me when I needed to drink. I  \ndid intend to kill you - I won't lie about that - but I couldn't. Somewhere between finding the  \nsweetest blood I could and bringing you here, I guess I developed feelings for you.\"  \nThe tabby wrung his paws as he took in what I'd just told him. Perhaps he was stuck on the 'I was  \ngoing to kill you' part.  \n\"If it's any consolation, I'd never hurt you now.\" I said. \"I don't even think I could drink from you.\"  \n  \nGiovanni lifted his head. \"Is there something wrong with me?\"  \n  \nI laughed. \"Not at all, it's just that I can't bear the thought of accidentally killing you.\" Then I was sitting  \nnext to him, holding his paw in mine and resting my head on his shoulder. \"So you're absolutely safe  \nfrom me... well, as long as you protect my secret.\"  \n  \nHe turned his head to me. I was surprised at how my speed didn't bother him. \"So where do we go  \nfrom here?\" he asked.  \n  \nI shrugged. \"I... I'd like to try being with you, if you want to. I understand if you don't want to, and I  \nwon't bother you if you leave now, but I don't want you to go.\" I said, weaving my fingers between his  \nand giving his paw a squeeze.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp;  \n-Arael-  \n  \n  \nI was rather impressed at how well the little rabbit took being around a bunch of bloodsucking  \nmonsters. Desdemona danced around us as if we were just any audience. She was like a moving  \npainting. There to see, but not forcing her ballet down our throats. She was quiet and sweet,  \nentertaining herself and staying out of the way, dancing around the outside of the closed space the  \nfurniture made in the center of the living room. I don't think I could have asked for a better niece.  \n  \nShe deserved to be with Carmina and Maxwell more than anyone I could imagine. Desdemona  \nAshford, whose name was originally Penny Darko and more often than not 'little bitch', had come  \nfrom a very bad home. Carmina hadn't told me and the girl hadn't spoken of it, but I could see it all in  \nher memories. She made no effort to push it down. Instead, Desdemona took to heart the old axiom  \nthat whatever didn't kill you made you stronger. Despite the physical and emotional abuse she'd  \nsuffered, the little white rabbit could still smile.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; I leaned forward in Bacchus's lap after watching her for three minutes and eighteen seconds.  \n\"Carmina, I absolutely love her.\" I said too quickly for Desdemona to hear.  \n  \n\"She's perfect, isn't she?\" my sister replied, still watching the girl dart around on her toes. Carmina  \ntook Maxwell's paw into hers and rested her head on his shoulder. \"She's the one person I've ever  \nbeen happy to orphan.\"  \n  \n\"How many people have you orphaned exactly?\" Bacchus asked, cocking an eyebrow at the fox.  \nCarmina laughed. \"Oh, twelve that I know of. I don't bother with knowing my meals unless the kids  \nactually walk in on it.\"  \n  \nMaxwell balked. \"Children have walked in on you killing their parents?\"  \n  \n\"It happens.\" Bacchus said, letting his gaze fall from Desdemona to Maxwell. \"You haven't been a  \nvampire as long as we have, so maybe it hasn't happened to you yet, but beware. There may come a  \ntime when just as you tear yourself from someone's throat, you'll hear little feet making their way to  \ntheir parents' bedroom.\"  \n  \nI leaned back and put my head on his shoulder, kissed at his neck. \"You can't dwell on the past,  \nsweetheart.\" I told him. He'd once told me that story. One of the few times he wished he were dead.  \nHe held me close in one arm and ran his free paw across my cheek, eclipsing my face with the huge  \nextremity. I carefully bit at his wrist. Before I licked at the blood I'd drawn, I glanced at my sister and  \nbrother-in-law. They were both staring now, smelling the blood. I couldn't help but snicker. It hadn't  \nbeen my intention to tempt them, but it happened. My wolf's blood was cold and sweet and all mine.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Arael... we have guests.\" Bacchus reminded me, nibbling on my ear. \"One of which is a child.\"  \n  \n\"It's okay. Mama and Daddy do that all the time.\" My ears turned to the sweet, chiming voice  \nbefore my head did. \"Blood doesn't bother me.\" Desdemona said, twirling within snatching range.  \n  \nAnd I did just that. I carefully snatched the little rabbit into a hug. She squeaked, taken by surprise,  \nthen giggled. \"Your hearing is impeccable, little girl.\" I said, pressing my cheek to hers. She was warm.  \n  \n\"That's because of _these_.\" She said, rubbing her long ears, unaware that I'd barely heard Bacchus  \nand I was in his lap.  \n  \nI looked to Carmina and Maxwell. \"Will you be turning her?\" I said. My words slipped in and out of  \naudibility as my body did when I ran. Excellent hearing or not, the rabbit couldn't hear words spoken  \nthat quickly.  \n  \nConcern was evident in the gryphon's face. He squeezed Carmina's paw and looked to her.  \n  \n_She wants to be one of us._ Carmina's despondent mental voice said. She shook her head, and as  \nfar as Maxwell and Bacchus could tell, that was her only response. _I can't do it, Brother. I just cannot  \nimagine her killing anyone to stay alive and strong._    \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"I understand.\" I said, running my fingers through the red ringlets that fell from Desdemona's head,  \nframing her face. \"But pardon me for saying, you must consider the unforeseen. I support your  \ndecision, but keep in mind that should something happen, there's no going back and doing it  \nbeforehand.\"  \n  \n\"I've thought of all those things.\" She said. _And one day, I'll do it, but until then, I want her mortal  \nand warm._    \n  \nCarmina was weary of this conversation. I could feel it all around her. She knew I was reading her  \nthoughts and was trying to hide it, but each of her mental words had a sadness at its edge.  \nUnderstanding, I changed the subject. We had more pressing matters anyway. \"Shifting gears now,  \nwe have a bit of a mess to clean up.\" I felt Bacchus stiffen under me.  \n  \n\"Define 'bit'.\" Maxwell said fussing with the leather of his shirt that crossed his chest.  \n  \n\"Well, in a nutshell, Alextra is alive, not a vampire, and wants us all dead.\"  \n  \n\"Whoa there, baby brother.\" Carmina said. She sat on the edge of her seat and tucked one ankle  \nbehind the other. \"What do you mean 'not a vampire'?  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"I'll explain that part.\"  \n  \nWe all turned to the new voice from the kitchen. There, sitting with her legs crossed on the island  \ncounter and dressed like a witch was our Siamese cat friend, Luya.  \n  \n  \n\u0026nbsp;  \n  \n\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/215158-eternal-night-4-return.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/234071-eternal-night-6-sparking.json"}