The Vampire Queen's Mate

Chapter 2: Dinner Plans

Lestat and Sascha meandered down the hall to the kitchen where several familiars awaited their next high. Bianca and Milana trailed closely behind her on high alert for damage control. The news about Michael surely put the Queen in a foul mood, and while Vlad was on the job there was still a chance she might have a meltdown on the familiars. For familiars the act of being a walking human blood bag is exhilarating and thrilling. Many vampires mix the act of feeding off a familiar with steamy hot s*x. Sascha however very rarely mixes business with pleasure. Oftentimes due to the lack of an emotional attachment this leads to tantrums or gruesome feedings that leave the familiars badly injured, or even worse dead. 

The rumbling of Lestat’s purrs and the clicking of his manicured claws against the black marbled floors echoing in the hallway never gets any less ominous. As they walk Sascha drags a finger tip across the stark black walls. Black doesn’t show blood stains. The chandeliers hanging above are filled with red lights which cast a glow like a blood bath down the hall. To an unsuspecting human the hallway, or the entire high end Penthouse fortress inside Moscow’s most infamous building home to the Queen of the elite Primary Vampire clan, might seem like just another trendy expensive mansion. However, to a Vampire, especially a ranked Vampire serving under the Queen, the hallway alone speaks volumes about the ruthless and terrifying acts that take place within these walls. 

“Bianka,” Sascha snapped, breaking the menacing silence, “What’s on the agenda for this evening?” 

“Absolutely nothing,” she replies smoothly, “it appears you have the night off to do what you please.” 

“Hmm,” Sasha ponders, “a night in doesn’t sound terrible, maybe I will treat myself to a fresh familiar. I’m growing bored with the ones in the kitchen. They’ve gotten too… clingy.”  

“Well,”  Milana said silkily, “we could call Kataya and go out to eat tonight. 

“A girl’s night does sound fun,”  Bianka quipped, “I think you could use a fresh dinner. You’re very tightly wound this week.” 

Sascha smiled and a fang peeked out from behind her lips, “you’re lucky I find you useful and I like you. Otherwise I would probably claw that pretty face of yours,” she said laughing wickedly. 

Bianka laughed nervously in response/ Sascha was probably half way serious. She had been on a crazy streak lately with all the pressure Michael was putting on them. 

“Katya is consulting with the elders about securing some Ancient texts for Alexandria. That wretched girl better start making some progress on her grandfather’s work,” Sascha complained. 

Alexandria’s grandfather had died tragically during an attack on the division of archives. Many elder conduits had died that day and the successors in training were forced to take their place as a licensed conduit. The licensing ceremony was rushed and a few guidelines had to be changed given the incident and a need for the conduits services. The conduits are not quite human, but are not undead either. They live the same number of years as humans but possess unique skills and abilities that aid them in their work. Conduits work to serve the vampires and most of the original families are linked through blood magic to a specific family of conduit servicers. Every other generation the oldest child born to conduit parents is bound to join the force. The conduits handle many of the vampire's affairs such as maintaining historical artifacts, keeping track of and attending to ancient texts, accounting records, investment portfolios, you name it. The highest ranking conduits have their own team to help them accomplish the demanding tasks the clan doles out. Alexandria and her grandfather belong to one of the oldest conduit families. 

“Alright so I will text Kataya that we are having a girls night out to eat tonight. I will also let Viktor know what the plan is so he can be sure we have enough body guards and escorts,” Milana said, as she began making their plans tapping away on her iPad with her long nails. 

“Bianka, you can be in charge of outfits and accessories,” Milana continued handing out tasks. 

Sascha cut in, “ I will make a call to Igor and talk him into a car tonight. Someone needs to dispose of these familiars they are no longer of any use to me. Pick out a slow one and send him to the basement for Lestat.”

"Vlad," she called, beckoning him in from the other room, "take Lestat and one of my blood bags to the basement. Be sure he runs." 

With that she stopped and turned to Lestat dropping to his level and grabbed his cheeks pinching and scrunching them lovingly she swooned silkily, “see mommy loves you enough to share her snacks.”

The cat let out a low growl showing his distaste for her rough attention. 

“Ugh picky little beastie,” she sighed annoyed before reaching around to scratch behind the majestic cat’s ears. 

He closed his eyes enjoying the scratches and let out a low purr to show his satisfaction with the attention. When he’d had enough he walked off stretched and laid down to keep a watchful eye on the familiars lounging in the kitchen. It’s as if he knew he was being rewarded with one of them for dinner and he was evaluating which would be the tastiest.