Michelle fled down the stairs and flinched at the sound of Stephen slamming the door shut behind her. The only comfort she found from his rage was in feeding and though she preferred to catch her own food fresh, tonight she would settle for a victim from the basement. The last thing she needed was Stephen coming to look for her and realizing she had gone out to hunt again.
"You worry too much about what he thinks of you," Lee said, emerging from the shadows of the basement hallway.
"That's what happens when you love someone," Michelle snapped back. "And get out of my thoughts."
"It's not exactly something I can turn off," Lee shrugged. "I told you that before we got together. You knew the risks."
"I had a lapse in judgment obviously. Now move, I'm hungry."
Michelle shoved Lee out of the way and unlocked one of the cells. A weak groan emerged from the pathetic human curled up in the corner desperately hoping the darkness would somehow spare them from another feeding.
Michelle's keen vision led her straight to them and as they attempted to scream and push her away, she easily pinned them down and sank her fangs deep into their neck. She felt her victim's body go completely limp against the floor and savored every sweet drop of blood as it trickled down her throat.
Once she had her fill, she stood up, wiped her mouth on her sleeve and smiled down at her meal.
"I'll bring you some food later to keep up your strength. You're definitely one of my favorites."
Michelle left the cell and locked the door behind her.
"Do you feel better now?" Lee asked, leaning against the opposite wall. The trace of blood around his mouth told Michelle she wasn't the only one who'd just scarfed down a quick snack.
"Only a little. I have no idea how I'm going to make up with Stephen. My apologies are not helping anymore."
"What are you apologizing for?" Lee wanted to know, following Michelle up the basement stairs. She paused at the door Stephen had slammed moments before and wondered if he was still sitting angrily on the other side of it.
"Apologizing for being hungry? For hunting? For being the bloodthirsty monster you were meant to be?"
"Stephen says I've gone too far. He says I don't-"
Michelle was cut off by Lee's hand around her throat slamming her body against the door.
"I don't want to hear anymore of what Stephen says to you. He made you what you are. He doesn't get to take it back now."
"So I shouldn't listen to him but I should listen to you?"
"Yes you should," Lee insisted, pushing his body against Michelle's and spreading her legs apart with his knee.
"Stop it, just stop," Darby interrupted, holding her hand up in Lee's face. George stood next to her looking uncomfortable and Lee was grinning from ear to ear.
"You said you wanted to know the whole story," he said innocently.
"Yes and I immediately regret saying that," Darby told him. "What I really wanted to know was-"
Darby was interrupted by Bailey flinging open the door of Thomas's cell and stepping into the hallway. She slammed it behind her and faced the three vampires.
"Hey, sweetheart. You and loverboy have a nice chat?" Lee said with a smirk.
"Yeah we did actually," Bailey said, taking a step toward him and standing up as tall and straight as she could.
"I've decided that you all are going to let him go," she said confidently. "And you're going to do it right now."
Darby, Lee and George all exchanged a look of surprise and then stared in unison at Bailey.
"We are going to do what exactly?"
"You're going to let Thomas go. Or I am actually. I'm going to carry him out of here and the three of you are going to let me."
"Now, darling. Why would you want to deprive us all of an easy snack?" As much as Bailey loved hearing Lee call her "darling", she had a one track mind set on saving Thomas.
"Because he's my friend and because I'm done being bossed around by the three of you all the time. I am an equal member of this ridiculous family and its about time you showed me some respect!"
Bailey turned and opened the door to Thomas's cell. She walked over to where he sat against the far wall, put one arm around his shoulders and the other under his knees and lifted him off the floor. They smiled at each other as she walked confidently out of the cell and past the three vampires who stood silently, too shocked to say anything.
Bailey hugged Thomas's weak frame gently to her body feeling proud of herself for her courage. When she made it to the top of the basement stairs, she turned to the doorknob and pushing open the door, came face to face with Stephen. She gasped, afraid that he would stop her from taking Thomas to her room but he looked around as if he was seeing right through her.
"I know he's here, I can smell him," Stephen said, his eyes going wild and his fangs growing long in his mouth.
"Where is he?" he yelled in Bailey and Thomas's faces. "Where is Lee?"
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