Two days had gone by since Rarity locked herself up in her home and now the entire town was worried for the unicorn.

Upon Twilight’s arrival in Ponyville, Spike had confessed to her in as much detail as he could muster about what transpired to bring them to this difficult situation. How he had invited the mare out to see his designs for the festival, what they had spoken of, how she appeared then and after the second night of the Blood Moon; even how close that she had sat to him while they talked, the purple dragon stating that she had never been that close prior to that event.

I won’t say that I didn’t enjoy the attention, or the closeness, Spike pondered, while he accompanied the princess to her castle. I almost can’t believe that she actually hooked her foreleg around mine. She has never done that before; not with me, at least. There was something different about her, I could sense it. Yet I can’t help but feel that Rarity requires my help with what is happening with her. She would never send me away like she did on that second night, not unless she or I was in danger.

The astute mare wanted to lend a hoof in whatever way that she could, but at the same time admitted that she did not really know how to go through with solving Rarity’s issue.

“I’m beginning to be really worried for her,” Fluttershy announced, sitting around the crystal table in the Hall of Friendship. The sky had once again grown dark, Celestia’s sun almost dropping below the horizon again. “If Rarity hasn’t eaten in over three days it could be really dangerous for her health.”

“You’re right, but what can we do?” Applejack quizzed from her seat. “Ah have seen how Rarity gets over an important dress order. If we go in and bust down the door, it could cause a whole mess of trouble. She’s not the type to run outta food and starve.”

Rainbow nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I know that she keeps up that kind of figure, but even she has her limits on how far she’ll go; slim, but healthy or something like that.”

“Girls, oh and Spike,” Twilight quickly clarified, glancing over at the dragon briefly, before resuming her thoughts. “This could be a really serious problem. I don’t think that we can wait any longer to see if Rarity is okay. I know that we’re all busy, but at least one of us should go and check on her, even if it means opening the door without hearing her say to come in.”

Everypony and dragon nodded their heads in reply.

“Well, I could go,” Pinkie put in. “But I told the Cake’s that I would be watching the twins. Plus, I really need to try these three new cupcake recipes that I thought up. Now some of the ingredients might seem a little weird in combination with each other, but I am almost sixty percent sure that most of them will taste partly okie dokey when they are all baked.”

“We’ll let you taste test them this time, Pinkie Pie,” the cowpony answered with a level expression and a cross of her forelegs.

“I will go,” Spike said, placing his claws on the table before him. I can’t allow this to persist any longer.

All eyes fell on him. Twilight put a hoof over top of his left hand, looking concerned. “Are you sure, Spike? You might see something that you won’t like.”

The somber dragon closed his emerald eyes, prior to peering at her lavender hoof. He stretched his wings and let out a sharp exhale of determination. “I know, but the longer that we wait and debate, the worse that Rarity could be feeling. If she is suffering somehow, then I want to be certain that she is cared for.” After a moment of silent eye contact between the two, Twilight dipped her head and released his clawed hand.

“Alright; go then. If you need us, simply send one of those emergency flares of yours, okay?”

Nodding his head in comprehension and knowing now what he must do for his love’s sake, Spike galloped out of the Hall of Friendship and along the many winding pathways and staircases, traveling as fast as possible on the darkened journey to Carousel Boutique.

Please, be alright, Rarity.

Rarity had only finished her little cleanup of the night prior moments ago, making certain that all of the fabrics and furniture blocking the windows and doors were returned to their original places. To a large extent, she had even managed to calm her nerves and cravings down since the Blood Moon had faded and her wings and fangs were once again concealed.

Opal approached the mare from her left side as she stood next to her bed, feeling the white cat brushing her side against her hind leg. “Well, I feel far better than I did before. Thank you, Opal.” She went to pet the feline, yet was overcome with sudden dizziness and plopped down upon her carpeted floor before she truly fell. Rarity set a hoof upon her head to regain some amount of her composure, hearing Opal meow as she sat before her.

It lasted for all but a moment, yet it spoke volumes about how she was faring after the two nights that transpired. Mmm, perhaps I am still not as alright as I imagined. She beamed at the little cat and gave her a few scratches at the back of her ears, hearing Opal purr in response. I shall pay a visit to the Everfree Forest upon the very next chance that I receive; that should suffice for now.

As she sat, giving her fluffy companion more attention, she worried over what she could do to prevent more episodes like that from occurring. “I certainly cannot appear outside feeling like this. Why, that would undoubtedly have everypony worrying over me. Not to mention if I ever passed out from it, my wings and fangs could be discovered by one of the doctors at the hospital. I definitely wish to prevent such a thing as that from occurring.”

A knock sounded at the front door again, shaking the proper lady from her fretful imaginings. Rarity glanced over her shoulder from within her room, giving her tail a flick to ease her growing concerns. Soon she was trotting along the staircase to the lower level to see who it was this time.

Now, who could that be at such a late hour? Nopony came by today, not even Fluttershy or Spike. The mare reached the door knob, yet hesitated. Her eyebrows rose. Am I really in any condition to entertain guests right now? She clenched her jaw lightly, prior to shaking her head. Of course, dear, really. You have your poise once more and I am certain that it is merely somepony wanting to know how I am feeling. I can’t continue to cause strife among my friends because of what has already passed.

With that matter settled, despite the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach, Rarity encompassed the door knob in her sapphire aura and pulled it inward to greet whoever was calling on her.

“Rarity,” Spike shouted happily, looking relieved and troubled at the same moment. At seeing him; however, her confidence slipped by a wide margin. She had to fight off the urge to simply shut the door in his face. “You are okay.” Thank Celestia, the gentledragon imagined.

Attempting to appear at peace with meeting him again, the alabaster mare cleared her throat and gave him her best winning smile. “Hello, Spike,” she began, a bit shaky on the first word. “Why, of course I am alright. Although, yes, I was a little under the weather for the past few days; I apologize deeply if I worried you- err…and our friends, of course.”

He scratched at the back of his head in that cute way that she recognized, whenever she spoke with him. “A little, but, well…you seem to be fine to me. I was simply afraid that something had gone wrong; that you were hurt and that that was why you have been locked up here this entire time.”

“Well, I am sorry to have caused you to fear for my safety. Won’t you come in?” she proposed, though in her mind she really did not want to speak with him for long; not at the current time at least. I cannot have him here for long, even so. I will convince him that I am faring well and quickly send him off; it is late, after all.

“Thank you, my lady.” Spike bowed courteously, flicking his tail to and fro as he ventured into her home and Rarity shut the door with her magic once he was settled.

I always enjoy it when you call me that, Spike, she thought, smiling at the closed door. You speak those words with such sincerity and care that I have never heard in a stallion. “Was Twilight’s trip a success, darling?” the unicorn questioned, spinning about to smile and saunter with him into the kitchen. “Hopefully she had a good time at least.” She offered him his usual seat at her table and he thanked her. This time, Rarity sat a bit farther from the dragon, desperate to not see the vein in his neck.

That is the distance that I would expect from you, Spike imagined, a bit downtrodden that her affections on the day that he had escorted her about were only a passing thing. No, I shouldn’t think like that. This is good and Rarity looks well. Maybe I was only seeing things. He tipped his head and beamed lightly. “Yes, I think so. I told her all about how the festival went too. It was a blast, or at least that is what everypony told me afterward. Even Fluttershy made an appearance for a little while, but she wasn’t dressed up as anything.”

“Oh, well that is good,” Rarity spoke brightly. “I am glad that you all managed to enjoy yourselves.”

“Yes, um, Rarity; are you sure that you are alright?” he queried hesitantly.

She tittered softly, waving off his concerns. “Oh, yes. That bug that I told you about was a bit more bothersome than I had initially anticipated when we were here together last. Yet as you can see, it has been expelled from my system.” Rarity placed a hoof on top of the other to cease its involuntary shaking.

Spike smiled in response, yet he was still not completely convinced that something wasn’t troubling her. Whatever it is, Rarity, please let me help you. “Well, that is good. How are the dresses going?” he asked.

“Hmm, fairly well I would say. Honestly, I haven’t had much time to focus on them. I only just overcame my illness this morning. I needed a few good meals and a good time to relax to feel my best again. You came at purely the right time,” she lied. This is all a test, to see if I leave any kind of inconsistencies with my explanation. I know the process all too well, my dear Spike.

After a brief time where the two stared at one another, the violet dragon cleared his throat. “Do you want to have some help with those dresses then, Rarity? Like I said before I can always come in whenever you need me.”

You are a gentledragon to a fault, Spike, she thought kindly. “Oh, never mind those things for now, Spike,” the vampiric lady answered him, waving a hoof in his direction. “I yet have time to finish the designs, though I would not mind a little bit of help now and then. Yet for now, would you like some of the tea that I never managed to grant you?” Rarity chuckled to herself as she stepped upon the kitchen floor and meandered along past the island to her kettle, being certain to not sway her hips or do anything else that may elicit a reaction from her more primal urges or from Spike’s feelings for her. “I feel as though we are merely resuming our places from where we left off.”

The mare turned her gaze to him in time to view him nodding, chuckling a bit himself. “Yes, tea sounds lovely, please.” I know that it will not be easy to tell whether you are hiding something; you are terribly good at keeping secrets, yet if anypony can determine such a thing with how much time that they have spent with you, it is me.

“Then tea you shall have, my dear.”

She spun to face the kettle and set it to boil, gazing out of the window at the pleasant night atmosphere. Despite the festival having concluded, she could yet feel a tug at her wings, wishing to whisk her away to claim another victim of the night and her fangs wishing to bite into her dear friend’s neck. The proper lady stifled those desires easily, only letting those thoughts of finally having Spike to herself enter her mind.

This is not a good time to lose yourself to your desires, darling. Calm yourself.

Her thoughts were disturbed by the boiling water, which she hastily poured into two cups that she had placed on matching plates for the both of them. In mere moments, both she and Spike sat at the table once more with tea nestled comfortably before them.

“So then, Spike, tell me,” she started, after having the first relieving sip of her tea. “What was your favorite part of the Nightmare Night Festival this year; your fabulous decorations or the undoubtedly splendid costumes that everypony must have been wearing?”

He had his clawed hands wrapped around his cup, not yet having a taste of the beverage. The dragon leveled his gaze with her and she saw how much weight and pain his next reply was certainly containing.

“Actually, after that night when you said that you were sick, I couldn’t stop thinking that you were hurt and I couldn’t do anything to help.” Lowering his emerald eyes from the mare, he sighed and settled his right claw upon the white lace table cloth. What else can I do except tell the truth? I know that it likely won’t come to anything, but I have to try. “I kind of forgot about everything else, I simply wanted to know that you were going to be okay.”

The unicorn’s heart instantly broke for the poor dear. After what I said to you and you still feel as if it is your fault. She couldn’t help but reach out and place a hoof over his right claw, garnering her assistant’s gaze. “Oh, Spike. I am truly sorry to have caused you so much stress. It was not my intention at all. Your patience and kindness were plenty helpful, darling.” Yet even so, I need you to leave right now. I can’t see your sweet and innocent face any longer.

“Rarity,” he murmured, anxiety weighing upon him only briefly, before capturing Rarity’s eyes, “I really care about you and I don’t ever want to see you hurt. Please, if you ever have something like that happen to you again I want to help you.”

That sent her heart racing and her face glowing. She quickly averted her sight, although her hoof remained, comfortable over his claw. Rarity could feel her fangs protruding from her lips, yet hid them again with a touch of finesse.

“Rarity?” she heard him call, soon feeling a clawed hand on her extended foreleg. The lady stared into his eyes as he pulled his chair closer. “You look faint. You should go and rest.” We can talk about this later, she looks like she is about to collapse.

Rarity swallowed quietly, hearing his caring words and wishing that she could let herself feel what she did for him. Her wings were threatening to spread wide, seeing the steadily increasing flow of blood in his neck.

It was becoming painful, visions plaguing her mind about what would happen if she did not make Spike leave. Rarity inclined her head, staring at his chest would have to suffice for some measure of release. “Spike, you have to go, please.”

I can’t, he answered in his head instantly, hesitating only for a moment, prior to strengthening his hold a touch on her delicate hoof. The gesture and motion managed to gain her regard once again and she finally stared at him candidly. You are scared. “No, I am not going anywhere. You are in trouble for some reason and I am not leaving until you tell me what is wrong.”

The fashionista slammed her eyes shut, fearing what color that they were now; not wanting to see his face and be tempted by her vampiric nature to hypnotize Spike. “I can’t tell you!”

Rarity could tell that he had left his seat now. He was sitting so near her, almost cradling her in his arms as she spun in her seat to face him. It felt so good to be held like that, every part of her shouting for her to let go.

“Please, Rarity, I…I just…” I don’t know what else to do, please, talk to me.

Rarity opened her eyes and found him looking up at her, lips parted slightly.

It was too much. Her heart pounding in her chest, her haunches burning for the dragon of her dreams, the wings and fangs, how much she wanted to feed on him and how long it had been since she drank any blood.

I am so sorry, Spike, was all that she could think, before she allowed herself to feel all of the wants and needs that had built since their walk about the town together.

Her eyes flashed red with lust at the prospect of having another source of blood so close, being able to finally satiate her hunger. The vampiric unicorn’s wings flew open and she leapt at Spike, knocking him to the kitchen floor with ease. Before he could question her, Rarity silenced him with her eyes. A sigh escaped her lips as she settled her lithesome body atop the adorable creature, straddling his waist and finally feeling her strength return. She brushed a hoof along his scaled chest and shoulders, drawing nearer to his exposed neck.

She smirked in delight at having another chance to feed and after such a long time with her cravings going unanswered. Rarity was so close, her fangs glistening and ready to puncture his tough dragon scales, yet she vacillated.

Hold on a moment. I am about to feed on Spike. The vivacious mare blinked her red eyes once, gaining some measure of composure. I have always wanted this, yet, Rarity shook her head. “Spike,” she whispered, blinking again in an attempt to regain herself. “No, I can’t.” Rarity shut her eyes, releasing him from her control. He will certainly run away now. I will be found out and I won’t be able to see my friends again. I won’t be able to see Spike.

While the mare fought with her imaginings, Spike felt his daze fading. He moaned a little bit out of grogginess. It swiftly occurred to him that he was lying on his back on the proper lady’s kitchen floor. “Rarity, what is going on?”

Startling the elegant mare with his question, she opened her eyes, inclined her head and regarded him ashamedly. Her wings and fangs were yet quite extended, her stark red eyes obvious as she awaited Spike’s fear and ire. With his release, he would have eventually remembered what she did and looked like before regardless.

“Did you always have wings?” he asked, before his entire face reddened at a different realization. Why are you lying on top of me?!

I am sorry, Spike. I let you down. She took a deep breath. “Spike, I am so sorry,” Rarity soothed, garnering his regard even though she knew that his embarrassment at their compromising positions drew his gaze anywhere but at her slender form. Even in a situation such as this, I would expect nothing less from a dragon as gallant as you. “I never wanted you to know, but I promised that I would not bring you to harm.”

“What are you saying?” he asked fearfully. Spike set his hands upon her forelegs, flinching as he focused on the fangs protruding from her mouth. The purple dragon was piecing things together as he recovered his senses, heart yet beating out of control from their embrace, his hind legs cradling her backside contentedly.

She had to make this quick, before he ran away; try to explain all of this.

I can only explain in one way. “I am a vampire.”

He almost thought that he hadn’t heard her correctly. Certainly Rarity must have been jesting with him. No. No, you aren’t, Spike pondered, about to smile a touch, until he focused on her visage and found in her red eyes that she was not fooling about with him. “You…you are?” His emerald eyes widened in shock and fear at her confession, yet not believing it completely and still pinned beneath her.

The proper lady wasn’t holding him in place however, merely supporting herself on his chest. Spike could push her off at any moment and gallop toward the door; she wouldn’t make a move to stop him. Yet he didn’t; purely staring up at her with bemusement and his clawed hands maintained their hold on her forelegs.

Even so, once it truly sunk in what was happening, the dragon did give her a light shove unconsciously. He instantly regretted it, yet his limbs carried him backward out of unease.

Rarity fell to the floor of her kitchen on her side, deserving the treatment and much worse for what she was. Lifting her head from the tiled floor, she watched with concern as he retreated to the sink, hitting the cupboards as he reached the far corner of the kitchen. He didn’t run. She wasn’t certain whether he simply couldn’t with how she had attacked him however, or if there was some other reason that held him at bay and she was hesitant to speculate. Rarity had never let any creature go from her powers until she had fed, so this was an entirely new turn of events, for both of them.

“You are a vampire?” No; no, impossible, the purple dragon reassured himself in vain, eyes yet transfixed on her form. You can’t be a vampire; the wings, the fangs, the eyes. You can’t. Not my Rarity, she has always been so generous and kind.

His voice almost went unheard. If Rarity didn’t have super sensitive hearing from her vampiric nature, she most likely would have missed what he said. She blinked in sadness at the thought that this would be the last conversation that the two of them would ever have. She breathed deeply and pushed herself into a seated position on the floor. No sense in hiding now. He will know eventually, once he tells the princesses about me. “Yes, Spike. I am a vampire. I am so sorry that you had to find out. I never wanted to put you through this.”

He didn’t appear to be able to speak at this moment. His eyes were wide with terror it seemed, or curiosity? She couldn’t tell, yet the desire to enquire was present in his features. Rarity cleared her throat and decided to continue with her explanation.

“I almost caused you great harm tonight and for that I am truly sorry. I would not hold it against you if you told the princesses about what I am. Even though I managed to prevent myself from feeding off of you, I still have the desire to do so.” So much desire, Rarity added in her mind, trying to prevent herself from drawing her red eyes along his form.

“Tell the princesses?” Spike quizzed shakily, adjusting his wings against his sides. What are you talking about?

She nodded solemnly, feeling her heart beating sporadically for the poor dragon’s emotions. “It would be the best option. This has shown me how little control that I have over my powers as a vampire. If I can’t keep myself from feeding on you, Spike, that means that nopony will be safe.”

His eyebrows rose in bafflement at her words. Managing to will some calmness into his senses, Spike seated himself uncomfortably on the floor, rubbing a hand along his foreleg. Why am I an indication? he contemplated, wondering what Rarity’s curious words could mean. The dragon eventually shook his head, heart pounding in his chest for so many reasons; one of them being the most prominent and hopeful. “What,” Spike hesitated, but swallowed and breathed in, “what do you mean, if you can’t stop yourself from feeding on me?”

“Spike,” she replied, wrapping her forelegs around herself and folding her wings at her sides. It was certainly astonishing to the proper lady that he hadn’t left yet, although Rarity could clearly see that the gentledragon was having trouble staying composed in her presence. He truly couldn’t be blamed for his actions toward her. He had been hypnotized and nearly fed upon, something that she would have taken much worse in his position. “Spike, I need you to listen to me. I know that you are frightened to find out what I truly am, but please let me explain.”

Is this why you have been acting so oddly? he thought, holding himself as steady as he could. It would explain some things. Spike cleared his throat lightly and saw in his lady’s red eyes the true concern for his safety. Vampire or not, Rarity needs my help and I can’t abandon her.

He nodded after another brief moment of silence shared between them and honestly, he appeared to relax despite the circumstances. She still thought that he could bolt at any time and she wasn’t entirely certain by this time if she would attempt to stop him either, too wrapped up in the moment to really think about that possibility.

“Thank you, Spike.” Rarity bowed her head low, attempting to fashion some semblance of their lovely relationship to ease his stresses. She swallowed gently, prior to catching his emerald eyes in her red ones. “You see, I have been a vampire for as long as I can remember; even when I was a filly, living with my mother and father.” She paused briefly, even managing to smile at the long passed memories. “It was easier to live with when I was younger, yet I still knew what I was. Most of my time as a young pony was normal. I even went out with my parents on Nightmare Night. It was even fun.” She giggled forlornly, noticing how the gentledragon shifted closer to her when she lowered her head.

It drew her regard again, wondering how he appeared so composed. Does he still wish to help me? she asked herself. Again, Rarity cleared her throat and gave a light flap of her wings. “Yet as I grew, Spike, I also grew…needy, lustful for blood. I quickly learned that I craved the blood of other creatures. I read the books, I knew the signs. Nopony had been recorded to be a vampire in two thousand years. It had passed into legend; fairy tales and fiction. Only most of it is true. I stopped going out on Nightmare Night, I fashioned schedules for spending time with friends that would not allow my cravings to become too much for me to bear. So, I am certain that you can understand now why I would not want to be present on this night.”

He averted his sight from her with knitted eyebrows, making her heart sink.

What a mess that you have made of this friendship, Rarity. He will never forgive you for this and I deserve that. Nothing could be worse. “I have always craved blood. I can’t help it. Without drinking the blood of others I would be weak and frail. You have seen it first hoof, err- hand, I mean. I am still quite weak because of not having fed. I usually limit myself to the blood of animals from the Everfree. Yet on the nights of the festival, I have taken to feeding on the blood of ponies.” Spike gasped and turned to stare at her with wide eyes. She flinched in answer, knowing and fearing that that was the expression that she would receive upon revealing her true nature to him.

She swallowed hard and continued. “I did not mean to hurt you, Spike. Yet I did anyway. If it was anypony who found out this way, I would not wish it to be you. I am so-” Rarity hung her head, unable to finish and listened for the front door to swing open and shut.

Yet there was nothing.

Her ears flicked back and forth for any sounds of claws on tile or carpet, but none came.

You still haven’t answered my question. Please, Rarity, I have to know. “Why could you stop yourself from feeding on me?”

Rarity returned her gaze to him in surprise. Her lip trembled as she looked at Spike, whose concern for her well-being was ever present across his face. He sat still now, only his tail swishing from side to side as any indication of his interest in the difficult topic.

She lowered her head again, ashamed. “I couldn’t. That is exactly it. I have lost the control that I have had my whole life. Pony blood is more addictive than I imagined.” Please, Spike, don’t make me say it. I can’t hurt you like this again after you learned what I truly am.

Spike shook his head and leaned nearer, gazing upon the mare with new courage; courage that he could only gain from the desire to help his friend. “Yet you said that you didn’t bite me. I don’t feel a bite on my neck. You stopped yourself from feeding on me. Why?”

Rarity was almost crying, shutting her eyes to stem the tide of tears. This won’t happen now. I knew that it could never be, but if I don’t speak the truth while I am yet able I will regret it for the rest of my life. “You…” She stumbled with her words, but lifted her head to look him in his eyes and tried again. “You are special to me, Spike. You always have been.”

“What?” Spike uttered, his concern and composure shattering upon Rarity’s confession. I am special to you? The mere thought in his head caused his cheeks to flush once more, his wings stretching at his sides.

If it had been under any circumstance other than this, the alabaster unicorn would have found his reaction quite endearing and adorable. Rarity simply nodded. “You have to understand; you cannot be here any longer. You have to leave, Spike. I am not safe.”

“No, I can’t simply leave. Not when you are-”

“Yes, you will,” she breathed harshly, trying to ignore how sweet his voice sounded as he continued to care for her. Rarity planted her forelegs in front of her and stood; near enough to him to set her point across that he needed to leave. “Do you want me to lose control again?”

Spike swallowed lightly and shook his head. “No, but I can’t leave you like this. You are special to me too.”

The mare almost lost it there, hearing those words from Spike’s mouth. Her wings were stiff and her fangs ready to pierce skin, or scale, as it was. Rarity wanted to feed, to take what she needed. Yet it was more than that. Rarity wanted him also and she knew that she couldn’t have him without the inevitability of biting him. “Please, Spike,” she whispered, tears flowing along her cheeks. The unicorn shut her eyes and stepped a few paces away, preventing herself from looking at him and viewing the sorrow in his features. “You can’t say things like that to me. I am too dangerous to be around right now.”

The kitchen fell silent once more. Rarity was too scared to open her eyes or use her senses as a vampire and see if he had left. She merely cradled herself in her forelegs, curling her wings about her lithesome form. Yet she hadn’t heard any footsteps leaving. They were growing nearer.

She felt Spike’s arms wrap around her body moments after and, startled from his act, the alabaster unicorn set her hooves on his chest, regarding him fearfully. “S-Spike-”

“Rarity!” the purple dragon shouted, interrupting her and pulling her tighter onto his lap. Rarity yelped in disbelief that he had been so bold and stared at the creature, waiting for him to speak again as pristine fur brushed delicately against shiny scale. “It is okay.”

“Pardon?” she questioned him, tears yet falling from her eyes. His tender embrace was almost delirious to Rarity, feeling as his grasp yet again loosened, merely supporting her right hip and left shoulder in his forelegs. This is nothing like being carried to my bed by you, Spikey.

“You aren’t dangerous. You stopped yourself from biting me, didn’t you?” He swallowed hard, hesitating about what he was going to say.

Spike, what are you trying to do?

The dragon took a deep breath, keeping his eyes on her. “You don’t need to bite ponies anymore.”

Rarity tilted her head. “What do you mean?” Her eyes flashed with realization, coming to understand why he was behaving this way. She pressed her hooves against his chest and leaned herself away from him, yet his hold on her never faltered. “Spike, no.”

“You can feed off of me whenever you need to. I won’t mind.”

She shook her head vigorously. “I can’t!”

“Yes, you can.”

“No! Out of everypony I know, out of everypony that I wouldn’t allow myself to feed on I could not bear to live knowing that I had done that to you. I can’t take advantage of you like that!”

“But I love you, Rarity!” he shouted, once again silencing the vampiric unicorn before she could say more. Rarity retreated, feeling her cheeks burning from what he said. “Please. I can’t lose you because of this.”

She looked at his face and set a hoof under his chin. I can’t lose you either, dear. Rarity’s mouth began to water involuntarily, salivating over the prospect of feeding and from viewing the vein directly below the scales of his neck. At the same time, the mare felt her cheeks and haunches burn for who she was about to feed upon. She leaned forward, yet fighting the urge to drink his blood. “Spike, please…you don’t need to do this. After starving myself for two days, I don’t know if I will be able to cease before you die, Spikey!”

Spike looked fearful, no doubt that the fangs would hurt and clearly at the prospect of dying. Yet he shook his head and turned his neck to her. I will do whatever it takes to keep you from harm, my lady. The fashionista gulped, seeing the want to help in his eyes and the excitement from having expressed his feelings to her moments ago, causing his blood to flow faster.

Opening her mouth, Rarity exposed the fangs that she had been trying to control so desperately to the dragon. With every effort that the lady could muster, she grabbed the sides of Spike’s head and pulled him in for a passionate, lustful kiss.

He deflated into her, loosening his grip on her supple body. She kept him there for as long as she could, relishing in the fact that he was enjoying this as much as she was. Rarity released him after a few moments from a need to breathe.

“I…uh…what?” was all that he managed.

She kept her eyes focused on him as Spike’s cheeks glowed red and his eyes were glazed over. I am sorry, Spike. I can’t hold myself away any longer, she thought, before sinking her fangs into the vein in his neck. He gasped in pain, regaining his consciousness from the bite.

The vampiric unicorn shut her eyes and let her tears run, hearing Spike sigh as her saliva made his experience a pleasurable one. She removed her fangs and let out a sob before she lost herself to the arousing feeling of sucking the blood from his wound. It was unlike anything that Rarity had ever experienced prior; she could feel a wetness dribbling along her inner folds to her backside purely from their emotional embrace and Spike’s erect duel members brushing at her soft alabaster fur moments later.

As Rarity hungrily lapped up his deliriously delectable blood, flapping her wings uncontrollably, her desires and moans only grew in intensity when she felt Spike’s gentle caresses along her slender figure break through her cravings; the only creature that the proper lady would allow such passionate ministrations from. She let go for an unknown time, yet fearing what her love’s condition would be once she regained herself; when her feeding ended, guilt and regret washed over Rarity’s heightened senses, fearing the worst.

Spikey, please be alright. I don’t know how long it has been since I began; please, please don’t be dead.

She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see the state of the dragon that she cared for, yet knowing exactly what it must have appeared. The lady couldn’t feel his heart beat, not from her position on top of him or from her vampire senses. Rarity cried and collapsed onto Spike, cradling his head against hers.

“No, Spike, you can’t be dead. There was still so much that I wished to tell you.” She buried her face in the crook of his neck, overcome with grief at the situation.

“Rarity?”

The fashionista opened her tear stained eyes and saw Spike lying there beneath her, staring at her through bleary emerald eyes. He was still awake; still alive; she felt his heart. She smiled shakily, her lips trembling with barely contained relief and happiness. “Spike…”

“What happened? Are you okay? Did you drink enough of my blood?”

She remained silent, hesitating only a moment before she nodded. I almost end your life and yet you manage to worry about my safety first. How dare you scare me like that, you great big unbelievable softy. However was I so lucky to have the affections of a dragon so caring? “Yes, I did. It was enough to satiate me, yet now I am truly worried about your health.”

“Well, I don’t feel much different; perhaps a little light-headed and dizzy from our first…kiss, but I feel fine otherwise.”

The seamstress said nothing, merely looking down at him as she could see the incredibly diminished supply of blood which he now had. You always had a knack for cheering me up; however, I can always see through you, even without these abilities of mine. This time makes little difference. “I enjoyed it too, my dear. I am sorry, Spike, for not being able to control myself.”

Spike smiled at her in return and tried to sit up. Rarity inclined her head in acknowledgement and slipped off of his comfy lap, carefully seating herself in front of him once he had settled. “I told you that it was fine though. I wanted to help.”

“I know. Yet when I was new to drinking pony blood years ago, I became carried away and almost…killed many ponies. I don’t want to think about what would happen to you if I lost control and went too far with you, especially after two days without blood.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that,” Spike commented, wiggling forward and lifting her forelegs in his hands. “Dragons have a large amount of blood, likely a far greater amount than what ponies have. I mean, if I did have a similar amount of blood as you, I probably would be close to death,” he added, regretting that he had spoken that aloud quite soon after, upon viewing her reaction. Stupid, why? Why?

Rarity flinched at his answer, although she imagined that he had the right of it. “I suppose that that is true. I am simply happy that you are still alive, Spike. I have much that I need to say to you.” She tightened her own hold upon Spike’s clawed hands and she watched in amusement as the purple dragon swallowed. It was not difficult to tell what he thought that she might be referring to. “Spike, I love you and right now, I would very much like to kiss you. Is that alright?”

Spike seemed to lose focus, obviously not believing his luck. She chuckled at his innocence and waited for a proper response. Rarity wasn’t about to allow herself to lose control again, not on her proper lady side. Her thirst was sated as a vampire, yet she still held desires as a pony.

“Uh…uh- yeah…I mean, if you want to. That is uh…I would like to and all, but…”

She giggled again and wiggled closer toward the nervous-talking dragon, resuming her place upon his warm lap and pressing her hooves against his chest and feeling his muscles contort under her. “Oh, Spike, you are so cute.” So well-muscled too, she added to herself.

“I am?” he answered, gulping at their positions and the way that Rarity was now staring at him. It was an expression that he had only seen a few times when she glanced occasionally at stallions. Spike’s face flushed once again and he drew his arms across her back, causing her to exhale blissfully, yet not to falter in her sensuous focus upon him. He felt his twin penises rising against her backside and gasped when they rubbed against it, her clandestine smirk telling him that garnering this reaction was precisely her plan from the off. “Does this mean that whenever you were staring at other males, that you only desired their blood?”

“Simply kiss me, you adorable and sexy dragon of mine.”

Author's Notes:

Well, this one was quite the difficult chapter to fashion correctly. I must admit that I haven't thought this tale through very well. It is several years old, so I apologize if anything doesn't truly make sense, at least at the moment.

I would like to pursue this clandestine tale, yet it will likely be slower now, since I am largely through with material from the past. Yet I do recall where I wish to lead this macabre fantasy, so rest assured that this is not over.