“Where is his favorite spot?” Nikolai inquired worriedly.  “Can you show me?”  If he was going to heal Lilith, he needed to examine the worst of the damage.  But at the same time, it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain detached and professional while viewing her abused body.  Nikolai had seen terrible things done to human slaves -- and, for the most part, he’d managed to swallow his horror and do his job.  But Lilith was different.  Something about her kept stirring feelings that had slept for a long time.<br/><br/>Noticing the tears shining in Lilith’s eyes, Nikolai attempted to assuage her fear.  “I am not your master’s spy.  Whatever you say to me, I will keep it here.”  Curling one hand into a fist, Nikolai tapped it against his chest -- against the spot where his heart pumped stolen blood through a dead body.  “Our little secret, yes?”<br/><br/>The fact that Lilith’s master never let her drink from him certainly explained why the scars lingered on her body.  In order for them to heal completely, she would need to consume vampire blood.  But Nikolai only had access to the blood of one vampire and he wasn’t sure how he felt about sharing it.  Exchanging blood was a private and intimate act -- not something he’d ever done with a patient.<br/><br/>Nikolai had forgotten that smiling would expose his fangs.  Belatedly remembering, he worried that seeing them would upset Lilith.  But instead of shrinking back, she reached up and touched one.  A soft gasp escaped Nikolai as his tooth unintentionally pierced flesh, drawing a drop of crimson blood.  The scent of it was nearly overwhelming.  Hastily, Nikolai turned his face away from Lilith, attempting to hide the expression of bestial hunger which temporarily claimed it.  He hadn’t drunk directly from a human for a very long time.  Unfortunately, the craving for it never went away.<br/><br/>While Nikolai attempted to regain control of himself, Lilith revealed a little about her past.  “So  you come from a family of vampire hunters?  That is a very honorable lineage.”  Nikolai never held it against humans for fighting back.  What else could they do?  Perhaps if things had gone differently, if he hadn’t made youthful mistakes and been turned against his will, he might have even counted himself amongst the hunters.  “Do you remember much about your family?”<br/><br/>Bread and water?  No, she needed something much more nutritious than that.  Since she didn’t have a favorite food, Nikolai resolved to present her with a number of options, until she discovered one.