“Elaborate.” He crossed his arms.
“While we could maybe kill each other almost as easily, there are things you can do that I cannot. Which is why I need to know what is protecting me and my girls from the likes of you.” I stopped in front of him. “How do I know I won’t be locked in a dull gray room again with nothing but a collar and clean sheets?” I traced a finger over the edge of the desk and down to his leg, leaning close as if to tell a secret. “How do I know I won’t be like every other Host promised a good life?”
He didn’t answer, didn’t lift his eyes to meet mine, nothing.
“Something to think about.” I left him there to let my words marinate.
Just the interaction had me drained, needing to recover from nothing at all.
I could smell food cooking in the kitchen; it was well into lunchtime, though I’m sure some of the dinner prep was starting while the fire was hot.
Even the venture up the stairs was a chore, having to stop at the last flight before reaching the top. As I entered my own room, I knew my day was about to get longer and longer.
Phoebe and Edith were in the living area. Edith was clutching her skirts with white knuckles; Phoebe was stiff-browed with arms crossed. Both of them let go of their tension when I walked in, the two of them immediately standing.
“I didn’t want to bother you today—” Phoebe started.
“Phoebe thinks it’s her night to feed, but I’m pretty sure it’s mine this time,” Edith talked over her.
“No, you missed your feeding night, so you don’t get one. Tough luck when you can’t keep a schedule,” she snapped.
All I could hear was the jaw snaps of hungry dogs. The throbbing in my head made me falter against the sofa, sitting down on the cushions and clenching my eyes shut.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“We can just do one today, one tomorrow?”
“Just do it now.” I took a deep breath. “Both of you. No need to fight.”
“You probably shouldn’t while sick.” Edith sat next to me on one side.
“It really is fine if you want to delay.” Phoebe quickly sat down on the other side, like it was a race for my neck the minute I assured them that all was fine and they weren’t being selfish in the smallest sense.
False concern from both parties, no matter what they lead on with their words.
I leaned back against the couch, brushing my hair out of the way. “Just do it.”
Edith and Phoebe exchanged looks, a competitive sort of glare as they neared. Phoebe rested a hand on my upper chest, grazing my collarbone, her fingers fluttering over the square neckline of my nightgown.
Edith preened some hair sticking to my skin away, breathing shallowly against my neck.
Phoebe didn’t hesitate to go first, sinking her teeth into one side, more sure of her bite than usual. Like an animal exhibiting resource guarding tendencies that had yet to be trained out.
Edith went next, her bite clean, practiced, relatively painless.
The two of them feeding wasn’t bad if you ignore the blood loss. Two hits of venom numbed my head and my nerves, except there was nothing to stop the intrusive thoughts. I could feel myskin heating up, delicate fingers holding me, touching like they wanted a better grip, leaving no room as if someone would steal their piece of meat.
The stars and colors behind my eyelids were so pretty, especially when they changed when someone spoke.
“Edith, enough,” Phoebe’s muffled voice scolded.
“I didn’t take any more than you did,” Edith’s voice echoed.
“Alina!” Phoebe’s voice knocked against the inside of my head, asking me to come to the door to answer, but I did not want to.
The darkness from the corner of my eyes bled over like tightly woven wool. Suddenly, the weight lifted from me, and I was floating, as if submerged. One nice moment of peace. No one wanted anything from me, and neither did I from them. Free of responsibility, such a fantasy to indulge in.
“Alina!” My body shook, snapping me awake. Edith and Phoebe hovered over me.
