Etienne didn't answer. "Here we go," he said, drawing her attention to the game screen. "Level one."
Rachel watched the opening sequence in fascination, a smile of anticipation curving her lips. She was a secret video-game junkie and her work hours made a social life somewhat difficult, and so she had been known to waste hours playing them. The fact that Etienne was the creator of her favorite game raised him in her estimation. Gorgeous and brilliant? He was looking better by the moment, and he had looked pretty darned good at the start. Even as a corpse.
They played. Etienne was a stern taskmaster. There were no cheat codes allowed, and he wouldn't even give hints on what was coming next. He also insisted they couldn't use the sissy Easy level; they started and played on Expert, working as a team to hunt out and stake various meany vamps.
Rachel decided not to analyze the fact that the game was all about wiping out an evil vampire cadre. However, she couldn't help but wince every time she succeeded at dusting one of the villains. At last, Etienne noticed, and explained that these were "rogue vampires," not good ones like themselves. These guys liked to eat the old-fashioned way and took life doing it. She relaxed a bit then and really got into the game--to the point that when Etienne moved away for a minute, she hardly noticed until he set a mug by her hand.
Suddenly aware that she was thirsty, Rachel reached blindly for the mug and gulped down its contents. She then promptly spit it back. "Ewwww!" The tinny taste of cold, thick blood coated her tongue.
"Sorry." Etienne didn't sound very sorry. He was chuckling as he took the mug and grabbed a box of Kleenex off the end of his desk. She cleaned up the blood that had not made it back into the mug. "It's an acquired taste. I should have warned you."
Rachel grimaced and wiped her mouth. "I don't think I'm likely to acquire it anytime soon."
"Hmm." He looked troubled and drank from his own mug. Then, setting it aside, he said, "Well, if necessary we can feed you intravenously."
Rachel heaved out a defeated breath. "That sounds... wimpy."
He shrugged. "Inconvenient but manageable. Lissianna had to do it until recently."
"Your sister?" Rachel was surprised. Lissianna had seemed a strong woman, not at all squeamish like Rachel was feeling.
Etienne nodded. "She's suffered hemophobia from childhood. The sight and smell of blood made her faint. The only way she could feed was biting or taking blood intravenously."
"Biting? Wouldn't she taste it that way?"
"No. If you do it right, the teeth soak the blood in. It never touches your tongue."
"Then why didn't she just bite bags, like you did today?"
"The sight made her faint too," he reminded. "And she can hardly go around stabbing her teeth blindly into blood bags. She might make a heck of a mess if her aim is off. Then, too, there is the smell," he added. "The moment your teeth sink into a blood bag, the scent wafts up. It's a particular smell, bagged blood. For the rest of us, it's not a problem, but it is for Lissianna."
"I see," Rachel murmured, then became aware that he was frowning at her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
Rachel considered. They'd been playing Blood Lust II for hours, and she couldn't even recall the last time she'd eaten. She didn't think she had since before Pudge attacked her. "I'm hungry."
He nodded slowly. "I thought so. You look pale. Nothing will satisfy that hunger but blood."
Rachel grimaced. "Don't you guys eat any food?"
"We." He emphasized the word, reminding her that she was one of them now. "We certainly can and do eat food, especially while young. Children have to eat normal food as well as ingest blood to help muscle and bone grow. Those who don't are usually easy to tell--they're often stunted and emaciated. But after reaching adulthood, it isn't as necessary. After a hundred years or so, most grow tired of the hassle and sometimes even the taste, and they simply rely on blood with the occasional meal to help maintain muscle mass. Although Bastien is sure it isn't necessary."
Rachel considered, then cleared her throat. "Well, that means I have roughly seventy years before I get tired of eating."
Etienne managed a crooked smile. "I'll order something delivered from the deli."
"Deli?" Rachel frowned and glanced at her wrist-watch--which of course wasn't there. "What time is it?"
"A little after ten a.m."
"After ten?" she almost screeched. They'd played the night through and into morning. She supposed the saying was true that time flew when you were having fun. Still, it was hard to believe that they'd wasted the whole night.
"What would you like?" Etienne asked as he began to punch numbers into the phone on his desk.
Rachel thought, then asked for a Reuben, chips, and a Coke. She was really hungry, a feeling that was growing by the minute now that she was aware of it.
They played more Blood Lust II as they waited for the food to be delivered, but Rachel was distracted. She was relieved when the doorbell finally chimed, announcing the arrival of her order. Etienne excused himself and went to answer. Rachel knew he expected her to wait below in his office, but she just couldn't. Pausing the game, she followed him upstairs. She stepped into the kitchen just as he entered from the hallway, a deli bag in hand.