Serafina had been holed up in Luke's house all day, battling urges that she shouldn't be having. She'd heard something happened to Cassie today, and as soon as that had gone down, she'd left the hotel she'd been staying in, and headed to Luke's for company. It was funny, her first instinct was not to check in with Saku or the rest of her family, it was to run to the hybrid that she'd just met.
But maybe he could understand the bloodlust. And maybe he could explain why it was so strong today.
Her eyes glittered as she thought of feeding, just once, on something living. A human. An innocent. Someone young, cute, helpless... Serafina licked her lips.
Luke looked over at the girl, almost gulping. He could feel it too, the need to go out and play. Even after all these years, and all the resistance he put up most of the time... sometimes he slipped. And now, with this young half Vampire by his side, he wanted to freefall.
"Just one," Serafina said, turning to look at him, her eyes almost pleading. "We'll just take one each."
Luke shook his head, but he felt the need increase. "We can't."
"Please," she almost pleaded. "I can tell it's been too long for you. And for me. I just want to taste warm blood. Just once, then never again."
"We..." Luke rubbed his eyes. "We have to be strong, Sera."
Serafina walked over to him and massaged his shoulders, arms sliding around him as she sniffed at his neck. "Just this once, please? Let's play..."
"No, Sera..."
She could hear his resolve crumbling and she used it to her advantage. "Come on," she whispered seductively. "Don't you remember what it feels like to have warm blood? Sliding down your throat, filling you up? The thrill of the chase, the power when they surrender..."
Luke gulped again. "N...nnno."
"You know you want to... and we can, Luke, no one will know..."
"It's not right."
"Who are we to judge that? It's in our nature, and it's *wrong* to deny a part of ourselves... and we've been doing that for so, so, long..."
Luke shook his head to clear it, she was starting to make sense, but one of them had to be strong here. He knew the guilt of giving into a craving, an instinct, and he didn't want that burden to lay across her shoulders.
"Come on, just a little taste..." She ran her hand across his chest, giving a little mew when he caught it firmly.
"No, Sera," he said, his voice stronger, the Slayer in him rejecting the Vampire instinct. "You have to stay strong."
"But sometimes it's so good to give in."
Serafina licked his cheek, her breath hot against his neck.
"It is, but it's not worth it afterwards," Luke told her, closing his eyes for a split second. "And I won't let you suffer that."
Serafina hissed, her eyes shining gold and her claws lengthening slightly. "Let me."
Luke caught her hands again, holding her back from him. "No."
Her face vamped out and she growled in approval when Luke let go of his control and vamped out.
"Come on..." she almost asked.
"No," Luke said again, not relaxing his grip on her arms.
"Don't make me hurt you."
"You couldn't."
"Oh yeah?"
Serafina headbutted him, then kicked out, sending him flying across the room.
Luke hit the wall, but quick as lightning, he was up again, and charging at her, pushing her down and straddling her, before punching her hard.
She hissed and bucked him off her, flipping to her feet and charging at him. He caught her centre and twisted her around, then elbowed her in the cheek. She jumped up, grabbed a hold of the light fixture and threw her legs out, catching him around the throat and twisting, pushing him to the ground, before jumping down and kicking him hard in the side.
Luke grabbed her ankle and pulled her down to the ground, pinning her to the ground, watching as the fight went out of her and her face slid back to normal. He felt his face do the same.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
Serafina nodded. "You?"
"Yeah."
Luke let her up and helped her onto the lounge. "Bloodlust?"
"Gone," Serafina replied. "I think the fight took care of it... it just... it was strong tonight, I felt lost."
"It happens sometimes," he told her. "You'll learn to resist. Or, you could just come fight me every time it happens. Not bad for a three year old, by the way."
She laughed. "I try."
Luke handed her a wetcloth and she dabbed at the blood.
"Thanks for stopping me though."
"No worries."