"Come back again and I'll give you a true blessing." The sanguine's words mocked her as she lay tucked into the cot in a corner of the Apothecary, the sounds of the healing and those who were having the curse itself removed from their body were soft against the words and the events that played over and over in her head. 
"Get… Away from her…" Tatiana's words whispered past her exhausted mind as she rolled over onto her back, closing her eyes tightly. Tears pricked at the corners of her shut eyes as she slowly gave into sleep.
Both appeared human enough save for the sharpened claw-like appendages on their hands and the slouch to one of their backs. Along with this, there was an odd sort of, pale to their skin.
Letting out a slow breath, she made no move to fight either of them, still trying to collect herself as she was dragged. The outfit or rather uniform she wore seemed to clue her in as to where exactly she was. A tabard of dyed leather hung loosely over her chest, the chest piece that would be over top of it was nowhere to be seen, which meant little to no protection for her. Huffing out a breath, she grimaced as she raised her head as the two creatures dragged her into a large throne-like room.
Torn and tattered tapestries hung from the windowless throne room and in the middle was a stage of sorts with three large chairs, one of which was occupied by a disinterested pale young woman or at least she appeared young. The woman turned her gaze upon the trio who entered and a smirk slid across her pale features.
"And how is our little knight this evening, hm? Finally ready to tell us who sent you?" Her voice was sickly sweet and it made her own skin crawl as she kept her head down.
The two that carried her tossed her forward onto the carpet that led to the stage with a hard thump. A groan escaped her as she pushed herself up slowly, looking into the sunken eyes of the woman who now stood before her.
Attempting to form words, her tongue and jaw did not seem to want to comply and the words she did speak were not the ones she would have used.
"Go… Back to the pit, you crawled out of, you leech." She spat at the woman's feet, glaring up at her.
A tutting noise escaped the woman as she drew back and then sent a heeled boot right into her face.
Letting out a grunt, she took the kick to the face and tumbled back a bit, now sitting on her butt and glaring up at the creature who had kicked her square in the jaw.
"We really must put that temper of yours in check, chéri." She tutted again and turned her head, snapping her fingers at one of the lurking creatures who moved to obey whatever the snap meant. Her eyes shift back to focus on the one who sat before her, smirking still.
"Tell us what we want to know or, this precious little one is going to join our ranks." She cooed as she gestured to the returning creature who dragged a young Altalar girl behind him.
Clearly, the girl had seen better days as she had bruising and rope marks around her wrists. Her clothes, too, were torn and baggy. The expression she wore was of pure terror as she shrank back against the creature that held onto her.
The woman smirked and beckoned the two closer, her claws clicking together. She slid her hand gently beneath the child's chin, going to simply jerk it to the side, revealing the child's neck which she moved to sink her teeth into before halting mid-way as the other cried out.
"ENOUGH! I'll tell you all you want to know." She snarled, rising from where sat and lurching to grab onto the woman's arm, attempting to pull her hand away from the child's chin.
The woman smirked and shifted her crimson eyes upon her. Licking her lips she moved to snatch her jaw now, digging the tip of her claws into her face.
"Mm… Tempting… Tempting. A beautiful and strong face such as this should be added to our ranks, don't you agree?" The woman's eyes shifted over her face before looking towards the monstrous creature that held firmly to the young Altalar. The creature merely grunted in agreement, staring at her.
"Bite me then. Just let her go. You'll get more use out of me anyway." She murmured, glaring into the eyes of the vampire who merely smirked and drew her closer.
"A beautiful addition, indeed!" Her words hissed into her ear as the vampire woman claimed her next victim.
Her eyes shifted open as the window by her cot allowed the morning rays of sun to fall over her face. She sat up slowly, hissing in pain and clutching at the bandages upon her chest. Her heartbeat thumping rapidly beneath her stitched and bandaged covered skin.
Still alive. Ba-bump
Slouching back into the pillows, Sera touched the blanket upon her legs and sighed, staring towards the window. Lifting her hand from her blanket, she touched her neck, feeling the pulse that hummed beneath her tanned and scarred skin.
Ba-bump. Still alive. Ba-bump.
A pulse was good. A pulse meant breathing. A pulse meant blood coursing through her veins. A pulse meant a heart that was still her own. A heart not taken over by the hunger that came with the curse. A pulse meant she was alive.
Ba-bump, ba-bump. Still alive. Still alive. Ba-bump, ba-bump.
