I assembled the first volume of my �Crimson Kiss Chronicle,� in ten chapters, during my first year among the Kindred, as I traveled with my Sire, the Vampiress Violet LeBlanc. Once that first volume was competed, I sent it back to Crimson Kiss Manor for safekeeping. That turned out to be a costly mistake.
In order to protect the secrets of that Sanctuary, its keepers were forced to destroy Crimson Kiss Manor. In the resulting conflagration, it was assumed that my Chronicle was lost. In truth, only about half of the first volume succumbed to the flames. The tome had been laying face down on a marble tabletop, and only the last several chapters � all of 6 through 10, and the last bit of 5 � burned away. The remnants of the book fell into police hands, but the story it told was disregarded by all except one extraordinary individual. How this affected her is recorded among the various tales that comprise the second volume of the chronicle, which starts with Chapter Eleven.
I am piecing together such records as I can to fill in the gaps left by the loss of the latter chapters of the first volume. So far, all I have been able to find are the excerpts from my own journal pertaining to the time recorded in the now lost Chapters Six through Ten of my Chronicle. Also, the last few pages of Chapter Five burned. Below are my meager recollections of the part of the evening originally recorded in the missing pages of Chapter Five. In keeping with the tone of that work, I have rewritten this here in the third person...
Lost... In Thought
Laura descends the main staircase, glad that Zalen had needed nothing more from her than being shown to his room. It bothers Laura that she has yet to complete some of the tasks Narcissa had set for her earlier. After leaving Zalen, Laura had stopped by Anna�s room and found it empty. She hopes this means Tricia and Deianira remembered to take Anna with them when they went downstairs earlier. That is certainly what Narcissa would have wanted.
Laura shakes her head and smiles wistfully to herself. It has become so important to her to make sure Narcissa is happy. Laura knows that is as it should be. Narcissa is such a generous benefactress, having allowed Laura and Tricia to come live in this luxurious mansion.
And, of course, there is the other boon Laura has received from knowing Narcissa. In this manor, Laura has discovered aspects of her own sexuality that she not only never suspected, but which might have once even revolted her. Laura feels a slight flush rise on her cheeks remembering the terrible ecstasies she has endured by giving herself, body and soul, to Mistresses Narcissa and Violet.
How foolish Laura must have been before coming here, to have never recognized such desires. Just as foolish as she had been when she initially took offense at Narcissa�s expectations that Laura would assist her and Sir Guillaume in maintaining this manor and entertaining their guests. True, they still often treat Laura and Tricia as nothing more than servants, and Laura�s pride still bristles at that thought, but surely that is a small price to pay for all the joy Laura finds when at Narcissa�s side.
Laura�s smile broadens brightly in the sudden realization that she now finds her greatest fulfillment in pleasing Narcissa. The satisfaction Laura takes from this epiphany almost, but not entirely, drowns out Laura�s deep-seated suspicion that she has sacrificed her own goals and independence to become nothing but the sexual plaything of a household of perverts. The true horror in this for Laura comes from knowing that even if that is true, the implacable desires of her own body would keep her here nonetheless, willingly doing whatever Narcissa and Violet ask, just to have hope that they might grace her with the slightest kind word or pleasurable caress.
Laura is lost in these confusing ruminations as she reaches the bottom of the stairs and turns up the broad, stone corridor. She approaches the library just as Sir Guillaume emerges from the room, shutting the heavy oak door behind him.
�Good evening, Master,� Laura greets him, using the title she has accepted, at his suggestion, to be proper for the residents and honored guests of this manor. Already, despite her doubts of a moment ago, the significance of this usage is lost to Laura in the hypnotic presence of her host. �Mistress Narcissa asked that I join Tricia and the others in the library. Are they still there?�
***
The rest of the happenings during that long night were recorded in Chapter Six, of which, unfortunately, only fragments remain.
***
Chapter 5... FINIS.
This chapter began by posing the question: Feast or Famine?
The answer was resounding: FEAST!
During the first hours of this night, the vampires have fed their bodies on the blood of the hapless mortals Sir Drakonic and Lady Somatra brought as gifts for their Kindred. Now, having sated their hunger, the residents of Crimson Kiss look to satisfy their equally fundamental appetites for emotional, intellectual and, of course, sensual companionship.
The enticing tales of how these needs are met are told in the next chapter, entitled �Feasts of the Flesh.�