Walking along the trail the next moonrise with Silas was awkward and the conversation was forced. The light spilled out over the lightly forested countryside and even cast our shadows out before us as we clipped along in silence, giving up with the talk and concentrating on making distance. The lovemaking we shared that morning weighed heavily upon my mind and I was still trying to sort it out, and the implications were myriad and confusing.
Here I was, a small furry humanlike canine with a voluptuous figure and a sizable male member…walking along a moonlit trail with a tall, slender nobleman who just happened to be a vampire. It was like a scene from some anime film from Japan.
My name’s Phaedrah...Phae for short. And this realm into which I found myself cast has held many surprises. Some were pleasant, others not so pleasant. But after waking up in the middle of the forest a week ago I have learned to adapt. The first and biggest blow to my shaky sanity was finding myself in a body that defied all normal conditions in nature. It is half-human, half dog, and more interestingly, a hermaphrodite. It is a far removal from the mundane life of a computer programmer and all around normal guy that I used to lead, to be sure. But I digress, and right now I was trying to figure out why I kept wagging my tail and pricking my ears up at Silas each time he looked at me with those burning yellow eyes of his.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed, little one. What happened between us is our secret. No one will know, for it is of no one else’s concern.” He spoke softly to me as we rested by the wayside of the trail, supping on hard bread and jerky.
“What makes you think I care if anyone knows, Silas. It was a wonderful experience, but one that I never dreamed would happen.” I added a note of petulance to my voice as I gnawed at a crust and then blinked at him. His lack of a reply goaded me.
“Why do you eat regular food, anyway? I thought vampires only fed on fresh blood?.” I did a little goading of my own.
“Oh, there is plenty of that in the bread, Phae.” he said.
I sputtered and threw the crust from me, looking at him horrified disgust. He laughed merrily and reached for me, taking my forepaw and holding it in his delicate hand.
“I’m sorry, little one. My sense of humor sometimes makes me cruel. I was only jesting about the bread. I get the blood I need from this.” He held up a wineskin for me to see.
“ And that is full of b-blood? Whose?” I shuddered to think.
“ No, little furball. This is Bloodwyne, a vintage developed by my ancestors that gives my kind the sustenance we need, without the loss of life to our subjects and friends. My people have become rather proficient at genetics and breeding.” He took a sip and tucked the wineskin back into his cloak. I felt like a supreme idiot and refused to answer his gentle smile with one of my own. His gaze pierced me and held me fast.
“ You still look at me with disgust, little one.” His tone was mournful.
“ Could you just leave me alone for a while, Si?” I pleaded.
“I cannot, little pup. I promised my sister that I would look after you. If I were to leave you alone…something could happen to you.” He gazed at me, unblinking.
“Did that include practically raping me this morning?” As I said it I felt a pang of regret, for his face fell and he turned toward the trail.
“As you wish, Phae. I shall scout ahead and see about some shelter, for dawn comes in about an hour.” He quietly faded into the forest and left me sitting on the side of the path. My only comfort was the lantern that I had insisted upon before we set out on this journey.
(Now you’ve done it, you nit…he is the only protection you can count on! And he is undead, fer Christ sake! The perfect bodyguard!) I tried to ignore the voice in my head, as I felt bad enough for hurting his feelings. All because I was angry at being teased. The noises of the forest pressed down upon me and my heart sped up in fear. I joined my inner voice in cursing myself for being rude to Silas. I sniffed the breeze and cringed, a dry rustling of leaves and fur assuring my ears that my nose had indeed smelled an intruder approaching. I slid off of the stump where I had been sitting and hid behind it, huddling into a slight hollow formed by the ancient, gnarled roots.
“ Here, puppy, puppy….Az will be nice to thee, puppy…. here ya go.” The smooth contralto voice tickled my ears, and I yearned to peek over the stump and get a look at the owner of it. My fear for my life outvoted my libido, this time. I stayed hidden.