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Clinking and clanging of forks and plates created a background rumble that made Copia salivate. Even after his life had ended the busy sounds of humans eating still prompted him to grow hungry himself. Gulping down the cold, coagulated blood from his wine glass with a shudder to sate his appetite. Scowling down at the fancy crystal glass goblet as if it was the sole cause of the unpleasantness of old blood. Swallowing down the whines that he wanted to release was much easier than stomaching the blood. It was his own fault that he was facing this abomination. Refusing to pick a new, warm Sibling of Sin to feed from after the last one had fainted from him taking too much. Punishing himself for putting the flock in danger with his insatiety. Even though it was a self inflicted punishment he found himself cursing himself for his decision. It wasn't as if he had killed the poor woman, why was he forcing himself to suffer so. Callous thoughts alone enough of a reminder why he bothered to punish himself.
Jumping at the touch of a cold hand against his shoulder. Deathly chilling even through the many layers of his cassock. Had there been any remaining blood in Copia's glass it would have spilled over. Glaring up at Terzo as he leaned over him with an air of superiority. It was almost best that he had been surprised. Copia would have shattered the glass if he had to watch Terzo saunter over as his smug grin suggested he had done. Rich smell of Terzo's perfume- which he favored for the sweeter scent it offered over colone- making Copia dizzy. Overpowering.
It smelled sickly floral, like a grandmother's house. Copia told Terzo as much while shoving him off from his perch leaning overtop of him. If Terzo was going to bother him he would do so fully standing. He refused to be a prop for Terzo to lean on as he both annoyed him and likely seduced some Sibling sitting in the distance with eye contact alone.
"You simply have no tastes Cardinal," Terzo retorted against his claims of matronhood, plucking the glass from Copia's grasp. Dramatically gagging at the lingering smell of the blood left smeared on the sides. "As I said, no tastes. This is awful. You really should pick a new feeder. Or better yet, finally pick a Bride who can find willing prey for you. A pretty face would do wonders for your blood donations."
Scoffing Copia rolled his eyes. It was the fifth time one of the Emeritus brothers had bothered him this month about finding himself a Bride. Considering that normally he would have all of three conversations with any of them within a given month- it was getting irritating. Of course, taking over the Ghost project had increased their interest in him. Where he once could go unnoticed by them, now they were hyper focused on him.
The continued insistence on finding a Bride was suspicious. It must be important for some form of Ritual, or maybe they just didn't want to risk him finding a fan too enticing on tour. Either way the pressure was not helping matters.
"Copia," Terzo sounded just as sick of the constant Bride nonsense as he did. "I- of all people- would not be harassing you about this if it was not important. Just pick a pretty Novitiate, there are plenty of them this year, and be done with it. You don't even have to like them that much!"
"Unlike you Terzo, I do not want to pick the first pretty face I see."
Steeling himself to resist looking over at the new Novitiate that had captured his attention this year. It never worked out for him to try and court a new addition to the Ministry. Rumors about him paired with his awkward nature ensuring his failure. Many of such rumors started by Terzo himself. Poor attempts to tease Copia similar to how Terzo dared to tease Secondo. No, no matter how cute the new Novitiate was he could not get attached… Eyes flicking over to her table where she was shyly hiding her face as she giggled at something someone else had said.
"Shame, it does make it so much easier," he teased, gracefully ignoring Copia's distant glaces over at the table in the distance.
Fixing Terzo with another unamused looks- which he seemed immune to. Even if he was thankful for the small mercy Terzo was showing him. Then again, his eyes were glued to a different table in the distance where he blew a drawn out kiss to. Three Siblings all scrambling to act as if they had caught it.
"If I am to have a Bride," Copia bothered to explain himself. "I want them to be a partner in more than name. While such an arrangement may work for you, it would not for me."
"They you might try talking to the pretty bird who has captured your attention- don't deny it. Talk to her!"
Terzo sauntered off without allowing Copia a change to protest, leaving him with only the option to flip him off as he walked away. The subtle return of his gesture behind his back gave Copia the suspicion that Terzo did in fact have eyes in the back of his stupid head.
Copia had not expected to run- fortunately not literally- into his sweet Novitiate during his walk back from the practice room. He wouldn't have noticed her at all- hidden in an alcove as she was- had it not been for the heavy smell of fresh blood. The delectable aroma enticed him to stop instead of continuing on his way with the assumption that it was a meeting fabricated by Terzo to push him into action.
"Sorella?"
Softly speaking so as to not startle her too much. The poor dear so nervous about whatever was going on that she still jumped at his interruption.
"Oh, Cardinal. I'm sorry."
Bewildered Copia felt his mustache twitching with his attempts to hold back his smile.
"What ever is there for you to be sorry for?"
Stepping closer Copia caught sight of the sliver pin held in her hand, the pin covered in droplets of her blood that also formed alluring beads on the pad of her finger. Ah, she had pricked herself trying to put it on. Looking mindlessly at the droplets that glimmered like diamonds long enough that she grew nervous and began to ramble. Struggling to listen and ignore temptation.
"I don't really understand why but I know we aren't supposed to be wandering around without our pins on as Novitiate. But I had just forgotten to put it on- I hadn't planned on walking out of the dormitories even though I brought it just in case, and I-"
Grateful for his thick gloves Copia cut her frantic words off by taking the pin and carefully pinning the silver grucifix near her left shirt collar. Shivering all the same at the supernatural tingles that touching silver even through his thick leather gloves inspired. Body recognizing the threat it provided.
It was a precaution to provide all new Novitiates pure silver pins to wear, a natural repellent against all of the Vampires in the Clergy. Once sworn into a full Siblings of Sin they were no longer required, as by then they had learned about Vampires in full and would know the risks of consenting to being fed from. A combination of both visual symbol of their rank and a protection against danger. Placing it near her neck to deter himself if he managed to forget himself and attempt to feed from her.
"Let's see the damage you have done to your poor fingers," he teased.
"Oh, you don't have to-" her protests dying as he carefully lifted her hand up. "Thank you."
Unable to resist sampling her with a gentle kiss, tongue subtlety licking away the droplet of life essence. Pure, unfiltered her blossoming on his taste buds. Salty taste inspiring his appetite to grow. Such a sample a mistake, how could he resist her now? The coagulants in his saliva from his venom halting the blood flow. Naturally sealing shut the superficial laceration. No longer did her blood pool on the pad of her finger, instead rushing to flush her cheeks.
"All better, si?" His voice thick with blood lust and desire.
"Si," her whisper picked up by his sensitive ears while she looked thoroughly flustered.
"Shall I escort you back to your dormitory," trailing off with an open invitation if she felt bold enough to grasp it.
"Yes please, Cardinal."
Hooking their arms together for the short stroll back to the dormitory wing of the building. Rather pleased that she had at least accepted him as an escort. Taking the opportunity presented to inquire about her experiences so far within the Ministry. Grateful that she seemed invested in her classes. If she stayed there was a chance to convince her to give him a chance.
That nightly stroll was far from their last. His Novitiate giving him several opportunities to befriend her, to know her, to grow even more invested in her. They spend nights walking the gardens together, days working side by side- him on Clergy paperwork and her on her studies. The time spent together far more valuable than the brief taste of her blood he had been allowed. His crush growing into a much more intimate obsessive infatuation.
She had made several small indications that she was interested. Touching him more frequently, laughing at his stupid jokes, even on a rare occurrence daring to flirt overtly with him. He knew that she would be his Bride. When he dared to ask her, to drain her and feed her drops of his own blood.
Soon. Very soon. She would be his for eternity.
Gently leaving "A Guide to Vampire Brides" in front of her dormitory door. Knocking softly before fleeing down the hall. She was a quick read, it would not take long for her to ask him about the book with his name written in red on the inside cover.