Gwen was giving sword lessons to some of the house revenants when she received her grandmother's note. She had just put Callie on the ground and the revenant was getting to her feet sullenly. Callie had been a thrall with the house for the last year and had just been made a revenant a few weeks ago, so she was full of easily bruised pride.
"You can't over extend," said Gwen.
"Yes mistress," said the young girl sullenly. Callie was actually older than many when she was turned. She looked like she was in her mid thirties, but all revenants felt young to Gwen.
"I know it's tempting to just keep attacking, and remaining on the offense is usually the better plan. But it's critical to maintain balance while doing so."
"Yes mistress," said Callie. She had that dull, repetitive note in her voice people have when they're upset and not really listening.
"Callie."
Callie looked up at the tone in Gwen's voice.
"You should be proud of what you've accomplished. You're one of the best students I have. I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but you just have to file off a few rough edges and you're going to be the pride of the house."
Callie brightened at that, "Thank you, mistress."
"You can call me Gwen."
"Thank you, Gwen," said Callie. She actually blushed. Gwen lamented for a moment she had given up casual flings with the thralls. But it was for the best; Carla deserved all of her attention.
"Now, let's go again and this time just be a little more mindful of your placement and footwork and I bet I'll be the one on my ass."
"I doubt that but it's worth a try," said Callie. An eager smile had replaced her sullenness.
At that moment the courtier found her. Gwen still wasn't clear where the courtiers came from, how many there were, or even if they existed after they delivered their notes. Gwen always suspected they came from a vat somewhere and returned to it when their tasks were completed.
"A message for you from Princess Sophia, Ser," said the courtier. Gwen heard Callie gasp at the name.
Gwen took the note and read it without preamble.
Attend me. I have an errand to discuss with you.
Then she folded the note and gave it back to the courtier.
"Is she on her terrace?"
"Indeed, Ser."
Gwen nodded, "You can tell her I'll go there after I freshen up."
The courtier nodded and went to deliver her message and then return to his vat.
Gwen smiled ruefully at Callie, "Looks like you'll have to give me my just desserts some other time."
"You can only avoid me for so long, miss... Gwen," said Callie. Gwen smiled at the playfulness in her voice.
...
Gwen made her way out of the palace gardens and into the corridors, heading upstairs toward the royal apartments. The corridors were bustling with servants and courtiers who got out of her way as she passed. The palace had gotten steadily busier over the last few months as Sophia secured her grip on the kingdom and took full control of the government.
Gwen was a few corridors away from the royal apartments when she realized she was a little hungry from fencing practice. She had burned a little blood teaching the girls to use their gifts. It wasn't really a big deal but she realized she'd rather talk to grandma on a full stomach. She cast around, walking down a side corridor, until she saw a familiar face.
"Sarah."
Sarah froze and turned. She was a regular human servant with the house. She had been in the palace when they had taken the city and had accepted the palace's new masters readily enough. Gwen liked her because she had a high, breathy voice. It sounded really sexy when she was moaning in Gwen's ear.
Sarah walked up, eyes wide and a little hopeful, and curtseyed, "Mistress?"
"I'm going to an audience with gran... Princess Sophia, and I feel I should freshen up a bit."
Sarah took a sharp breath. The dress code in the palace had gotten looser since the Mircalla took control, so it was easy to see Sara's nipples stiffen through the light fabric of her servant's uniform.
"Yes, mistress. Shall I fetch you some grooming powder?"
"Yes, please."
Sarah left and Gwen cooled her heels off to the side of the corridor. Sarah returned a few minutes later with a small pouch on a silver tray. Gwen always laughed to herself when the servants brought whatever you asked for on a tray. It was such an unnecessary gesture, but most of the blooded seemed to enjoy it.
Gwen took the powder, "Thank you."
Sarah jumped a little. There were not many vampires that said thank you to the servants. Gwen knew a lot of her peers laughed at her behind her back about it. Gwen appreciated that Carla did the same.
"Would my mistress like help applying the powder?" asked Sarah.
This was such a transparent lie Gwen almost laughed. Grooming powder didn't require any help. You just sprinkled it on yourself and poof, you were all cleaned up. Then it occurred to Gwen some of her fellow blooded probably would make servants sprinkle powder on them. Most of them actually. But Sarah definitely knew Gwen didn't need help. That wasn't what she was offering.
"Absolutely," said Gwen, "I would really appreciate the help," said Gwen. She tried to keep from sounding too sarcastic but she couldn't help smirking. Sarah giggled and blushed at her smirk. The red in her cheeks made a trickle of heat flow between Gwen's legs and the hunger jerked sharply in her belly. She felt pressure in her jaw as her fangs fought to extend.
Sarah led her down the corridor and opened a door into one of the rooms in the hall. It was a well appointed sitting room done up in the gold filagree, carved vines style the palace had when they moved in that Gwen thought was ridiculously overdone. Gwen closed the door behind her and Sarah was making her way to one of the several loveseats scattered around the room. Gwen followed her and sat next to Sarah.
"How have you been?"
"I've been well mistress. I've missed you."
"It hasn't been that long."
"I know."
Sarah unlaced the front of her dress and pulled it from her shoulders, revealing heavy breasts that Gwen had enjoyed exploring in the past. Sarah tilted her head away from Gwen and closed her eyes. Gwen was in a hurry so she didn't draw things out. She leaned forward and kissed Sarah's neck, resting her open mouth over the vein and running her tongue along it. Sarah drew in a sharp breath. Then Gwen bit down and the blood filled her. It was warm and rich and full and it was everything she needed. Sarah gasped and Gwen felt the shudder run through her as the ecstasy of Gwen's bite filled her. Gwen began eagerly sucking on the wound in her neck. And Sarah started taking the long, deep breaths with the whispery moans that Gwen loved so much. The blood traveled down Gwen's throat and filled her. Ripples of pleasure radiated from her core that felt like a gentle, slow massage of a tongue on her clit at the start of tender lovemaking. Gwen used a thumb to run slow circles around Sarah's nipple, it was already hard when she began stroking. Sarah took some rapid, shallow pants and then cried out as she came, the orgasm sending shudders through her that Gwen could taste in her blood.
