Celeste woke up gasping, her body thrumming with an aftershock of the feeding. She lay in a bed she didn't recognize, the satin sheets cool against her heated skin. Her fingers trembled as she reached for her throat, expecting to feel a mark, a brand, something to signify what had just happened. But there was nothing.
The hunger had disappeared, leaving her hollow but eerily calm. For the first time in days, her mind was quiet—no whispers, no doubts. Just clarity.
Until she turned and saw the auburn-haired woman lounging in a chair by the window, sipping from a glass of dark red liquid that could have been wine—or something else entirely.
"Good morning, starlet," the woman said with a sly smile.
Celeste sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. "Where am I?"
The woman gestured around the room. "Your new sanctuary. Every chosen needs a haven, a place to retreat, to prepare."
"For what?" Celeste asked.
The woman's smile widened. "For everything. Fame, power, the endless adoration of millions. It's all yours now, darling. You just have to keep feeding."
The word sent a shiver down Celeste's spine. She looked down at her hands, remembering the man's face, the way his body had arched under her touch, the way her own body had come alive in a way she hadn't known was possible.
"I didn't mean to—"
"Feel that good?" the woman interrupted, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
Celeste's cheeks burned. "I didn't mean to take so much from him. What if I hurt him?"
The woman rose gracefully, her dress shimmering like liquid gold as she approached. "He offered himself to you, Celeste. That's the beauty of this. Every touch, every kiss, every moment of ecstasy—it's freely given. That's why it works."
"But he looked so drained," Celeste said, her voice wavering.
"And he'll recover," the woman assured her. "In fact, he'll crave you now. They always do. That's the nature of the bond."
Celeste's stomach twisted. "The bond?"
The woman perched on the edge of the bed, her sharp nails tracing idle patterns on the sheets. "Every time you feed, you're binding them to you. Their devotion will grow, their need to please you will consume them. It's intoxicating, isn't it?"
Celeste looked away, the memory of the man's blue eyes still fresh in her mind. Intoxicating was the right word—but it scared her.
"What happens if I… don't feed?" she asked hesitantly.
The woman's smile faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough to send a chill down Celeste's spine. "The hunger will come back. Stronger. It will claw at you, twist you, drive you mad. You can resist for a while, but eventually…" She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Eventually, it will devour you."
The moment the woman left, Celeste grabbed her phone. Her hands shook as she dialed, and her mother picked up on the third ring.
"Celeste?" her mother said, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "Is everything okay?"
Celeste hesitated, her chest tightening. "Yeah, Mom. Everything's… more than okay. I did it."
Her mother's tone shifted instantly, softening with cautious excitement. "Did what, sweetheart?"
"I signed the deal," Celeste said, her voice trembling with equal parts triumph and fear. "It's real, Mom. I'm going to be a star."
There was a long pause, and then her mother sighed. "Celeste, are you sure? You've always been so ambitious, but—"
"I'm sure," Celeste interrupted, her voice firmer now. "Mom, listen to me. I've already made enough money to buy us a house. A real house. No more scrubbing floors or chasing bills. You and Rollie can come live with me. Today. I'll send the address."
Her mother's voice cracked. "A house? Celeste, how… how did this happen so fast?"
"It doesn't matter," Celeste said quickly. "Just pack up and come. I promise you, everything is going to change for us."
After a brief silence, her mother whispered, "Okay."
"And Mom?" Celeste added, her voice softening.
"Yes, baby?"
"Bring Rollie. Tell her… I want to hear her sing when you get here."
Her mother chuckled faintly, the sound bittersweet. "She's been practicing, you know. She'll love that."
A few hours later, Riot showed up at Celeste's mansion, interrupting her preparations for her family's arrival. His expression was grim as he leaned against the doorframe, scanning her face.
"Feeling like a goddess yet?" he asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Riot," she breathed, relief flooding her. "I thought they—"
"Killed me?" he finished, smirking. "Not yet. They've got plans for me, same as you."
Celeste frowned, crossing her arms. "You're not bound to them?"
"Not in the same way," Riot said, his tone dark. "I'm here to make sure you don't lose yourself in this."
Celeste's gaze dropped to the floor. "I already feel like I'm slipping."
He stepped closer, his voice softening. "That's how they get you. They dangle everything you've ever wanted, make you believe the price is worth it. But you have to remember who you are, Cel. Or they'll take it all."
Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and the auburn-haired woman stepped in, her presence commanding.
"Am I interrupting?" she asked, her tone sweet but edged with steel.
Riot straightened, his jaw tightening. "Just giving her a reality check."
The woman laughed, a melodic, mocking sound. "Oh, Riot. Always the rebel. I wonder how long that defiance will last."
Celeste stepped between them, her voice firm. "What do you want?"
The woman's smile sharpened. "It's time for your first event, darling. The world is waiting to see you shine."
Later That Evening:
The event was a private gala, the kind of exclusive gathering that only the most powerful and influential attended. Celeste entered on the arm of Marcus, the man from her initiation. He looked completely recovered, his smile dazzling and his grip on her arm firm but reverent.
"You'll be the center of attention," Marcus murmured as they descended a grand staircase into the glittering ballroom. "Just follow my lead."
The room fell silent as they entered, every eye turning to Celeste. She felt the weight of their gazes, the hunger in their stares. But this time, she didn't feel fear. She felt… powerful.
The auburn-haired woman appeared at her side, her golden dress shimmering like fire. "Do you feel it?" she asked softly.
Celeste nodded, her pulse quickening. She could feel the energy in the room, the adoration pouring off the crowd like waves.
"They're yours," the woman said. "Take what you need."
Celeste's breath hitched as the hunger stirred again, faint but insistent. She glanced at Marcus, who gave her an encouraging nod.
"Go on," he said. "They're waiting for you."
She stepped forward, her heart pounding, her body humming with anticipation. And as the crowd surged toward her, their hands reaching, their voices calling her name, she realized just how much she craved this.
And how much more she would need.