Asa moved among the women of his herd, smiling. His hands reached out, touching, stroking, as one might with pets, or perhaps a collection of watches, as much to establish ownership as to admire and appreciate. He had been inattentive the past week, and he could feel it.

Hunger.

Tonight, the delicate ridges of veins caught his eye more than the smooth curves and he licked his lips lightly in anticipation. A correction; perhaps a perusal of a wine cellar, as he matched pretty faces with particular flavors which were a product of eating habits as much as genetics.

He finally stopped in front of a dark, hispanic girl, taking her hand. She moved, expecting to follow him somewhere dark and soft, but he stopped her. A hand cradled her cheek and turned it away as he moved in, eyes fixated on the throbbing line of her vein, fluttering in excitement.

The wet redness of life rushed into his mouth, spilling out onto his shirt and tie as well as her bare skin to run in rivulets down her decolletage. Asa sucked in the warm, wet, vibrant fluid, finally opening his eyes. He smiled with bloodstained lips and fangs at the others who had stayed to watch. Their fascination a mixture of curiosity, horror, desire, jealousy.

He could feel the woman becoming weak as he stole her essence, hands clutching at him as knees buckled. Annoyed, and still hungry, he stepped away, ignoring the soft, dull sound of her falling.

Perhaps one day he might take another ghoul; until then, they simply were...

...were still there, while he was still hungry.

A hand reached out to another; a pale blonde, something cool, light, and sweet to compliment the rich spiciness.

[banner]asa[/banner]