Erica's eyes widened as Cassidy raise her chin to catch her gaze.  The touch, intimate and familiar sent shivers down her spine and forced her to lick her lips.  Her command, however, was less well received, though she nodded, knowing she wouldn't be able to turn such a demand down.  Her eyes darted to her poor Alfred, so fragile and trusting.  As much as she'd changed herself, she was now beginning to realize what she was doing was changing him.  Only a little, at first, but eventually, eventually something would click within him and the Alfred she knew would be lost to her.  It was something she was determined to fight against, regardless of how inevitable it seemed.<br/><br/>Her eyes narrowed as Cassidy spoke to her love and he replied, straining to hear the conversation as well as feeling a mixture of both arousal and jealousy at seeing them so intimately engaged.  They were merely speaking, but Cassidy's ass swaying as she'd strode confidently over and brushing his cheek, his lips moving in response, was enough to know that the road ahead for Erica was not to be an easy one.<br/><br/>Alfred rose and approached her, his nervousness easily identifiable under his brave facade.  Quickly glancing towards her sire, she took Alfred's hands in hers and pulled him in for a long kiss.  "A ghoul is someone who serves us.  Who watches over us during the day and performs functions we might not be able to do because of our natures.  Ghouls are especially important parts of our society, and many of us," she sent a pointed look to Cassidy, "need them, whether they want to admit it or not."<br/><br/>She led him over to the couch he had just deserted, sitting facing him and stroking his cheek lightly, aware of Cassidy's gaze the entire time.  "In exchange, a ghoul is given an extended life span.  They age slower than regular people, being virtually immortal if they continue to be fed appropriately.  They also derive some of the power of their Regnant, another word for the one feeding them, being able to learn and use some of the same abilities as time goes on."  She squeezes his hand reassuringly, resting it on her knee as she moves to what might be the hardest part for him.  "What you do....is drink.  From me."  Her eyes searched his as she held his chin, needing him to stay calm and collected.  If he bolted now, Cassidy was sure to have her next meal, hand delivered by her childe.