Elizabeth/Eric stranded on planet fic!!!!!!!
Elizabeth/Eric stranded on a planet fic
Part 1
This was certainly the lousiest shore leave she had ever had. Granted she hadn’t had very many. The workaholic that was Elizabeth Shelby didn’t see the need for them personally. It wasn’t like she was attached to anyone who would have made a romantic getaway to Risa fun and relaxing. All in all she would much rather throw herself in to her job That’s what was truly thrilling and exciting. Traveling to different star systems and solving challenging problems all under a time crunch was where she excelled. In fact all her hard work and dedication over the past few years finally culminated a few weeks ago in a much deserved advancement in rank. She was now a Lt. Commander and the new Chief Engineer for the (insert ship name).
Her parents were no doubt as proud as she was but even so she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret at the thought that she was further entrenching herself into engineering rather than the command track. She had made the decision to switch in her final year of the Academy having momentarily doubted her ability to be an effective leader. She could thank Mac, her former fiancé, for that. Granted he had no intentions of undermining her. But having come from a planet where from an early age he was looked upon as a warlord and liberator of his people, it was hard to measure up. Is it even worth mentioning he’s a commander now. She enjoyed her job though and jumping out of the gold and into the red uniform wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibilities.
The perk as Captain Anthony Jackson put it when he offered her the position was that it came with some extended leave. The (ship name) was in dry dock having portions of her hull refurbished and Shelby wouldn’t be needed for a while. Being ever so efficient she volunteered to start early in order to familiarize herself with her new ship and crew. Jackson just laughed at that.
“I like that you’re eager. It shows that you have the right stuff to be on my staff. But you’re also woefully overdue for a break.”
Didn’t he understand that “breaks” made her restless. His avuncular nature made the statement seem ____ but underneath it was the stern tone telling her it was an order not a suggestion.
She opened her mouth to protest but the Captain cut her off.
“I’m surprised you’ve gone this long without one. Better make it a good one.” He winked and stuck out his hand. End of discussion she supposed. Although it had been mostly one-sided.
And that was how she came to be on (insert planet name). She had debated good ol’ Risa but her fair complexion didn’t take well to tanning and she really didn’t want any emotional entanglements caused by mislaid horgons. Although if she thought about it she really could use the male companionship. After all the ubiquitous (?) one night stand was made famous on this pleasure planet. But instead she chose (planet name) because it was peaceful, the locals were nice and tourism hadn’t run amok. It was a recommendation from her former CO. A dour (?) (alien species) whose idea of a vacation obviously hadn’t included beaches and mixed cocktails.
For the most part Elizabeth had stayed close to the Starfleet base and only ventured out to take in some of the more scenic bits She wasn’t too fond of the out of doors but she’d been intrigued enough to view the giant atalas. Standing over 300 ft tall these massive trees dwarfed the sky. Their limbs had been home to the indigenous species, the Akma. These tribal people had built dwellings almost 150 ft in the air and saw no need to come down to the ground floor having found unique ways to provide for all their necessities. Water from the rain (oh boy did it ever rain) and food from the plentiful flora and fauna that lived amongst them. After hundreds of years their waterworks systems and housing platforms were still intact and open to the public. The Akma had long since moved on from this region due to land disputes that weren’t settled until it came time for the planet’s bid for entry into the Federation. It was a sure way to quickly resolve all your problems.
She occupied her days well enough with reading and prepping for the new starship class she would be working with but her nights were…well, lonely. She didn’t particularly want to admit that this was a chronic condition. Her last boyfriend deemed her a bit cold and distant. But she didn’t like how needy he could be at times. They were better off apart. And as for friends, she had never really made the effort to have any close relationships. People transferred ships all the time. Not to mention all the hang ups surrounding fraternizing with subordinates.
So currently she was sitting alone in the sparse quarters the base allotted her, debating whether to climb out of her self imposed isolation. A bar or a lounge perhaps. Although she briefly popped into the Starfleet one and had found it kind of lacking in the excitement department. Some place in town may be. A bit more lively. She could do that. Let her hair down and just enjoy an evening out. She hadn’t really had the time or inclination since she left the academy.
Deciding that going out was for the best she dressed up a bit. She put on a white short sleeved wraparound dress which hinted at the small cleavage that she had been endowed with. The skirt rested just above her knees and the whole thing hugged her body closely. Pairing the outfit with black heels and a small silver cross that rested just below the hollow of her neck (more of an heirloom than a religious statement) she had to admit she looked pretty good. With her blond hair hanging in loose curls around her face she felt more carefree than she had in quite some time.
A memory washed over her suddenly. She was dressed in a similar fashion. About to go out on a date with Mac. She watched in the mirror as he came from behind and put his hands around her waist. Normally she was a tad uncomfortable with a move like that but she was in a good mood. Starting just under her ear he kissed his way down her smooth neck and across her shoulder, gently sliding the strap of her dress down as he went along. When he lifted his eyes up to meet hers he looked positively feral. He told her that she was beautiful. They never quite made it to that date. The memory was enough to give her shivers. Her whole body flushed with a desire she hadn’t felt in a while. Had it really been that long since she had sex of any sort?
Bringing up her ex wasn’t really fair. To say that Mackenzie Calhoun might have been the love of her life was an understatement. They had passion in spades(?) and a deep friendship. But really they were just too different at the time. She wanted her own career and he expected marriage straight out of the academy. The thought of being tied down scared her. They split, maybe not on the best of terms. She still loved him though. Cared enough to follow his career and felt joy when he succeeded. She hasn’t spoken to him since so it is with wistfulness that she thinks of him.
Putting aside her recollection she grabbed her coat and left the room. Outside the night sky was crisp and refreshing. It had rained a little while ago and the smell of the water evaporating off the streets was in the air. The ever present ominous clouds threatened even more rain. She was finding that this planet could rival Ferenginar in rain fall averages. It was a good thing she wasn’t going too far.
The street of this little province where she was staying was obviously the main attraction for both locals and visitors. During the day it served as your regular thoroughfare with shops and eateries. But at night it was a radical transformation. Probably one of the few places that defied the planet’s serene stereotype.
Little open air jitneys painted with loud colors, red and gold, carried excitable passengers up and down the street. Iridescent streamers connected to the back flapped in the wind. Popping noises and bright lights surrounded her as people passed with sparklers in hand. Their giddy laughs and stumbling walk due to alcohol and delight.
She heard music coming from a stage to her right. Men and women banged their palms in a rhythm on drums while other musicians played reed and string instruments. The music was exotic and fit the scene well.
Proceeding down the street she took in all the smells coming from the food carts set up along the sides. Some seemed appetizing, others did not. Small animals that looked almost feline wound their way around the stalls hoping for a dropped morsel but finding none went back to sit near the shop fronts.
Hawkers announced great deals on one of a kind items. Each man trying to out do the other in price and supposed quality. Twice she was offered colorful scarves and handmade jewelry. One woman was very adamant on selling her a set of intricately woven silver bracelets.
“I see you are wearing a silver cross.” She spoke in a thick accent. “Wise choice. Very wise choice. Always pays to be careful. You never know what is lurking in the shadows.”
How exactly silver was going to protect her Shelby wasn’t sure. She chalked it up to a local superstition. Thanking her kindly for the offer she left to see what else there was out there.
Street performers did tricks. Throwing hoops and ribbons in the air and catching them deftly behind their backs or around their necks to the delight of the crowd.
But perhaps the wildest attraction was a group of Tolas, a once rival tribe of the Akmas. These men were all but bare and their dark skin was covered in black tattoos and earthy colored paint. The area around their eyes was thickly coaled. So much so that the whites of their eyes were like an intense light. If the effect was to frighten their enemies than they certainly accomplished it.
The Tolas were performing a ritualistic dance; stomping their feet and wildly gesticulating with their arms. A guttural chanting rumbled through their chests and was loud enough to almost drown out the sound of the band.
It was sensory overload to a person who had kept to herself for the past few weeks and had previously lived on an ordered and generally quiet ship. But this was Life. The very essence of it. It was a controlled sort of chaos that drew you in. A darkness existed behind these painted faces. There was no real intention to inflict malice on you but rather to entice you to explore your own darkness. Release your inhibitions if only for the night.
She stood agog at the wonder before her. She only realized that she had been in a kind of trance as she watched the street performers when a lady brushed her arm. Shelby turned to see one of the most beautiful woman she had ever met. She towered above Shelby with her sinuous body and appeared human (although that was hard to tell these days). The stranger had almost Egyptian qualities. Her heart shaped face was accented with smoldering dark almond eyes, thick raven hair fell straight to her shoulders and her skin was a creamy coffee color. Her mocha pencil skirt was well fitted just as fine as her off white blouse. She leaned seductively against a brick building.
She did look like an Egyptian princess now that Shelby thought of it. The bronze bangles she kept twirling around her wrist accentuated the idea.
A string of lit paper lanterns above them cast shadows at their feet.
“You look a little lost my dear. You sure you‘re in the right place?” Her voice almost purred.
Shelby bristled against the tone. She was not one to be talked down to. Especially by someone who was practically her own age. Even if she was getting the vibe that this woman had an old soul as some would say. But she represented Starfleet and would be nothing if not polite to those she met.
“I just came to see what’s out here. It’s my last night before leaving.”
“Let me guess…Starfleet.” Shelby briefly smirked. “See there are two types of Starfleet that come through these streets. The ones who know exactly when their tour of duty is up so they can go frolicking with the natives and generally enjoy getting drunk off their asses. And then there’s your type. You’re married to the job. The job is your life. There’s no way around it. A part of you wants to come and experience something wholly new. It’s a part of why you joined Starfleet after all. But losing a bit of your self control, going a little mad and embracing your primal side scares the hell out of you.
Shelby blinked and her breath caught in her throat. She was blindsided by this sudden statement. It was one thing when she could find it within herself to admit her own fears but she never knew that they were practically written on her face.
As if sensing Shelby’s astonishment and a small bit of embarrassment, the black haired woman made to apologize.
“Forgive me. My name is Faye (or some Egyptian name). I’m a touch telepath. If I touch someone, like I did you, I can see their thoughts, feel what they feel.”
“I didn’t give you permission to violate my privacy.” This outing was fast becoming a bad idea.
“Forgive me again. I meant no disrespect. I only thought you seemed lost.” Suddenly she grinned and there was mischief in her eyes. “But perhaps you are simply waiting to see something that strikes your fancy.”
Grabbing her hand, Faye almost had to drag Shelby through the street. Faye pointed out a few of the more interesting stands and shops which she suggested she try later. The revelers had cleared for a bit just in time for them to see a group of men and a few women too, crowded around a window display case. A young woman, trexian(?) if she remembered correctly, was dancing to some beat that wasn’t audible on the street. With each gyration of her hips and arms more clothing was being unveiled from her body. The crowd cheered her on with catcalls and whistles.
It made Shelby’s stomach turn. Facing her companion she asked, “Is she selling herself for money?” It was hard to keep a level tone when her anger was warring within. Women shouldn’t have to be debased like this. Relegated to mere window dressing. Only as good as her parts.
“I don’t think she feels that way.” Faye simply replied.
Shelby forgot that their hands were locked together and of course Faye had heard everything she had just thought.
“She chooses to perform in that manner. Consider it a form of art. Does it legitimize it for you if I also told you she dances on a professional stage. That this tart in a box act is just for a bit of fun. An outlet from all the rigors of practices, routines and performances.”
Oh the irony! That she’s freer in a cage than she’ll ever be in the real world. Shelby paused for a moment and her gaze returned to the girl in the window. “What you just told me was utter bullshit. Wasn’t it?”
“You’re right.” She spoke quickly and with no emotion. “I don’t know what her life entails and I honestly see no need to be involved in it.”
Faye suddenly seemed less the human Shelby thought she was when they first met. There was an aura around the statuesque woman that was starting to creep her out. Not to mention that her skin was faintly glowing. Or maybe that was just a trick of the light.
When they walked back the way they came Shelby surreptitiously slipped her hands into her coat pockets so she wouldn’t have to be in contact with Faye again. Starfleet and her parents taught her a lot about tolerating other species. Especially the ones that may get on your nerves. And telepaths had never really bothered her. Those that were in Starfleet, like Betazoids, served either as ship’s counselor amongst the crew or even a counselor on the bridge. It must be a huge asset when staring down your enemy. Or at the very least trying to resolve a situation diplomatically. But that’s as far as she wanted telepathy around her.
She really didn’t feel like being lead everywhere by this woman so she stopped in the middle of the street.
“I can’t do this. Look I appreciate you showing me some of the sights but I think I’m tired now. I’ll be leaving.”
“No! You can’t go just yet.” She seemed on the verge of panic. A stark change from her prior relaxed manner. The smile on her face was thin. “You said that you wanted to go to a club. To get a drink, right?”
“You read that out of my head.” It was a statement not a question.
Ignoring her Faye pressed on. “There is this great club I can take you to. It’s exciting, a little on the dark side, but you’d look amazing there in that outfit.” There was hope in her dark eyes. And it didn’t take a telepath to realize that she didn’t care a whit about Shelby. All that mattered was getting her to go to this place.
As an officer you’re trained in all manners of hand to hand combat, negotiations, surveying areas for potential trouble, etc. You’re expected to have this all so down pat that fear will not stand in your way of managing a situation. She was counting on her skills here to not let her down.
But she was definitely not expecting the building that Faye took her to. “Fangtasia” was it’s name. That said it all really.
“Is this what I think it is?” She hesitated a bit.
“Vampire club. Just the thing you need I think. Live a little on the wild side Elizabeth.” Faye smiled and Shelby could see her fangs descend a bit. Her stomach plummeted. Not really human indeed.
They approached the door to the club and were greeted by what Shelby assumed was a vampire hostess. She was just a little taller than herself with long straight blond hair. Her corseted black dress was accented by dark eye shadow and ruby red lips. Her fine pale skin only heightened her beauty. Did all vampires have to be so god damn gorgeous. If she were a more insecure person she would surely develop a complex just by being here.
The hostess raised her eyebrow and gave her a once over before giving her perfunctory introduction.
“Welcome to Fangtasia. Where all your (find out the rest of this phrase) come true.”
“Thank you.” Shelby replied a little uncertainly.
“The name’s Pam. Let me know if you need anything.” She sounded bored. As if this was all very beneath her.
Pam unhooked the rope and stepped aside so that Shelby can enter.
“You have fun now” Faye called from outside. She gave a quick wave before turning to Pam.
From just inside the building Shelby listened as Pam seemed to chastise Faye.
“Interesting choice. Why her?”
Faye gave a small toss of her head. Her hair bobbed around her shoulders “She’s different, that’s all.”
Pam looked at the other vampire sternly. Having caught Pam’s silent meaning she huffed.
“I didn’t glamour her, okay. She came of her own free will. She never tried to stop me from bringing her.” Shelby knew that wasn’t exactly true.
After a few more seconds of staring her down, Pam nodded and Faye slinked back into the street. Seemingly disappearing into the night.
Ah, so that’s what she’d been. Earning commission for each tasty soul brought to the club. Shelby sighed and turned to see what a vampire club actually looked like. For one it was certainly alive given that some of the patrons were technically dead. Loud music with a catchy beat provided the people on the dance floor an excuse to grind against each other. The dark atmosphere made it even more intimate. At various points across the room dancers, presumably hired by the club, swayed provocatively atop lighted boxes. Every now and again they moved so fast there arms were a blur (a vampire trait). It was mesmerizing to watch. Sidling around the them she made her way up to the bar. She desperately needed a drink at this point. The real stuff too. This occasion did not call for synthehol.
The bar itself glowed red and complimented all the black décor. Bottles of all kinds of liquor were stacked high behind the bartender. She recognized a few of the off world brands that she liked. A sign on the wall read “NO BITING ALLOWED.” She had to laugh at that. Sitting on the edge of the barstool she waited for her turn.
So far all the vampires she had seen in her life (Faye and Pam so not very many) had been stunningly attractive. So she was pretty shocked when this one turned to serve her. He was downright frightening. Tall and menacing with long black hair, thick eyebrows and a craggy face. You could instantly believed that he killed people to survive. Even if it was explicitly illegal now.
Just like everyone else that evening he gave her a long hard look. Shelby was miffed. What was the deal.
“Is there something wrong because you all seem to be giving me that same look.”
“You stick out like a sore thumb honey,” his gruff voice sounded amused. He gestured to the crowd.
Although pretty diverse in species they all shared a common look: dark clothes and dark attitudes. All willing to pay to get a little closer to death. They ate up the possibility of immortality and the seemingly sexy lifestyle. And here she was dressed in virginal white.
“You look good enough to eat.” He leered at her and his fangs grazed his lower lip.
“I thought there was a strict no feeding policy in here.”
The man broke into a grin and laughed which served to soften his features a bit. “Sure that sweetheart. Sure that. What can I get you now?”
Shelby ordered a Verian whiskey and with a smile she left the bar to find a booth. Finding one to the less occupied side of the dance floor she sat, enjoying how the silky texture of her dress slid across the bright red vinyl.
So this was a vampire bar. Who would have thought there would have existed a colony(?) here on this quiet out of the way little planet. Back in the Academy zenobiology had been a favorite topic of study and naturally there were discussions on what vampires really were. Technically they would classify as deceased beings of human origins. Some theories suggest it was a mutated virus which becomes active as the body dies. Others say it’s magic. Shelby was a strict scientist so she was somewhat willing to believe in the first theory. Vampires subsisted solely on blood as the nutrients provided in it kept their flesh from decaying. Synthetic blood was readily available but to them there was nothing like the real thing.
For thousands of years they had simply been a myth on Earth. Stories passed between people with the intention of scaring others into conforming to certain mores. But with modern advances in technology and increased social tolerance vampires no longer needed to hide from the rest of humanity. Most were still very private though and kept the hierarchy and politics to themselves. A few had even joined Starfleet although she had never met them.
It was a wonder how she could have mistaken Faye as anything but. The otherness that one feels in a vampire’s presence is distinct. Nursing her drink, she gazed at the crowd and found that is was easy to distinguish between the regular humans and the undead. The vampires for the most part were seated at tables while the live customers were either dancing and drinking. Some were staring at the vampires in awe and excitement. A few were even brave enough to approach them. It was the possibility that one might suddenly jump up and bite you that was so terrifying yet also alluring. Shelby wasn’t afraid of them per say but they did make her uncomfortable. Perhaps it was just the fact that she didn’t know any personally.
Shelby watched an attractive young trill tip her head back and laugh, obviously enjoying the attention of the group of guys around her. She recognized the girl from the Starfleet base. An ensign with a medical background, straight out of the Academy. So she was one of those adventurous types Faye had talked about. Recognizing that she was still alone and decidedly in Faye’s second category made Shelby a little glum.
Suddenly the girl stilled until she was absolutely motionless. Her eyes were wide and the spots lining the sides of her face and neck darkened. Her breathing returned after a moment but it was labored. Shelby turned to follow the trill’s gaze and her eyes landed on what she could only describe as a
Part 2
At the moment her three weeks were up and she was sitting in a waiting area for the Starfleet shuttle that would take her back to (planet name IV) where she could then take a larger transport ship back to Starbase (some # or name). She had honestly been bored out of her mind with all the free time and couldn’t wait to resume her duties.
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Being out here, alone with the Viking Vampire, was changing her views on the entire species.
“This is all for show, isn’t it.” She crossed her arms and peered at him.
“You make everyone believe that you’re vastly superior with your super strength and immortalness. They bow down to your glamorous lifestyle and just eat it up.” Eric raised an eyebrow as she continued.
“But you’re just like the rest of us. Fallible and only as good as our skills and ingenuity allow us to be. Face it, you couldn’t survive without me. You may provide the brawn (and the good looks which she didn’t mention) but I have the technological savvy that is going to get us off this rock.” She knew she was being a bit cocky as she said it. The Starfleet effect so to speak.
There was a hint of anger brewing behind those blue(?) eyes of his. Had she truly offended him. And that was something you just didn’t do. A pissed off vampire was much more likely to give into temptation and bite you. But Eric seemed too composed to do that while a much younger vampire wouldn’t have given it a second thought.
“I could survive just fine on my own out here.”
“You couldn’t even read the Starfleet tricorder. It may have taken you days to find a dark enough shelter. By sun up you’d be dead.”
He didn’t argue after that, just turning his head away from her and gazed into the dark tree line.
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Her side hurt like hell and the pain brought tears to her eyes. She clenched her teeth and breathed heavily, trying to stabilize herself the best she could. Using her fingers she probed the ripped area of her uniform and found a gaping hole in her skin. It was about 2 inches long and a few centimeters deep. Shelby experimented with bringing the 2 sides together. It could be patched seamlessly but she had no idea if she had nicked an organ or something else that was important.
She could feel the blood bubble over her fingers. It was slippery and bright crimson when she pulled her hand out to look. Losing a lot of blood like this was not a good thing. Thanking God that she had brought a simple med kit in her pack she opened it and rummaged for bandages. There were antiseptic wipes, 2 self sealing compresses and a small hypospray that came with cartridges of antibiotics, coagulants that would at least help her to clot a little better, and pain killers.
Shelby gingerly removed the outer jacket of her uniform so she was down to the gray tank top underneath. Lifting the shirt slightly she cleansed the area with one of the wipes. Blood continued to trickle from the gash. She was beginning to feel the effects of it. Fighting through the wooziness she was able to hold the 2 sides of the cut together and bandage it with one of the self sealing compresses. That should be able to prevent her from exsanguinating. But she didn’t know what was going on internally and her everyday use tricorder was no help. A medical one would have been nice but she wasn’t trained to use one so her self diagnosis would be sketchy at best.
The last thing she did was inject the antibiotics, a small amount of the coagulants and a generous dose of the painkillers. After a moment the drug kicked in and she felt herself relax and become mellow. The pain was barely registering. She shrugged her jacket back on.
The trees were throwing long dark shadows on the ground and it became more difficult to see. Dusk was evidently approaching and that meant Eric was going to be waking soon. She knew that he had agreed to not feed on her. That he could survive for a while without actually needing blood. That was one benefit for being as old as he was (over 1000 years undead). But her clothes were now soaked in it. Technically she still had a bleeding gaping wound. Even if it was being held together. She had an extra set of clothes in the rock tunnel which she would definitely need.
Shelby did one last check of all the transmitting equipment before making her way slowly down the mountain face. She was still feeling lightheaded and didn’t want to slip on the loose rock and injure herself further. She felt the beginnings of a drizzle falling on the exposed skin of her hands and shoulders. Her hair was getting matted by the moisture.
Sure enough, by the time she reached the bottom it was fully dark and pouring rain. She shivered in the cold and thought longingly of those fresh clothes. The day’s exertions had worn her out and now she was beyond exhausted. She would give anything for a proper bath and bed right about now. But there was Eric to think of. Her lusty vampire housemate would be up for the night and she wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do.
She found the cave alright and stumbled slightly when she entered. Eric was right there beside her but didn’t reach his hand out as he had done before. Instead he took a step back and looked at her side.
“You are injured.” he said simply.
Hoping to avoid an awkward situation she walked past him. “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“You’re covered in blood.” His fangs had descended and his eyes glittered. He was looking at her not only as if she were his next meal but also his soon to be sexual conquest. Violence, blood, feeding, sex. It was all connected for vampires.
She found she could not break his gaze. Her face flushed and her stomach clenched with an anxiety she was ashamed to note was bordering on desire. It was hard to ignore that he had an effect on her. She wanted him. But this was no time to give in and satisfy that need.
Forcing herself to look away, she sobered up to the situation.
“Are you going to be able to hold to your bargain?” She tried to remain stern but her voice still came out a little unsteady.
Before she was aware that he’d moved she felt his presence directly in front of her. He loomed over her and she suddenly felt very small. Lowering his head his cheek grazed hers and she felt his fangs lightly touch her neck. Closing her eyes she shivered and held her breath.
But instead of biting he whispered in her ear.
“For now.”
And then he was off, moving back to sit at the far end of the tunnel. Shelby breathed a sigh of relief. She knew it wasn’t really fair. How would she like to go days without food, even if the ration bars were unappetizing.
Still thinking about Eric’s response (was it a small reassurance or a threat) she set about taking out the extra uniform packed away in one of the survival kits. Putting them on meant undressing, in full view of Eric. There wasn’t any privacy where they were staying and she didn’t want to step outside into the dark.
She looked at him and predictably he was watching her intently. One side of his mouth upturned in amusement. He knew he was in for a show.
She huffed, “Don’t look at me. Turn around.”
He laughed but averted his eyes. Shelby faced away from him anyways and quickly stripped off her shirt. The cold wet fabric stuck her skin. She checked the bandage and found that the compress was holding. Putting on the clean top was a relief. She instantly felt a whole lot better. Next off was her pants. She wasn’t about to remove her undergarments. Slipping on the new pair she peaked back at Eric. He was looking, of course, his smile widening at her discomfort. She should have known better. Rolling her eyes she put her jacket back on and sat near the edge of the tunnel, about as far away from Eric as possible.
She felt her exhaustion take over, couldn’t help how her eyelids closed. So many worries still ate at her, like would they ever be rescued, would she give in and let Eric feed on her which she knew was soon becoming a real possibility, or would he just say to hell with promises and bite her anyways. But despite it all she felt herself drift away.
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*dream scene to be written*
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She startled awake. Breathing heavily she put her hand to her heart. It was beating erratically. Belatedly she noticed that she was sticky with sweat and shivering from head to toe. Her teeth chattered and she felt numb from the cold. She felt cold. That was a bad sign. The Starfleet issue all weather jacket she’d been wearing was meant to protect her from the elements. It was designed to keep her at a normal, constant temperature. Her body temperature had plummeted while she slept. Shelby knew she was going into shock.
Bracing herself on the rocky floor underneath her she tried to sit up. Pain ripped through her abdomen and she felt for sure that her wound had reopened. She couldn’t stop the strangled scream(?) that escaped her throat. She wanted to cry. She was never really one to get emotional but the tears came anyway.
Shelby closed her eyes. She couldn’t see a way out of this. They didn’t have the medical supplies she would need at this point and help didn’t seem likely to arrive in time.
“I could help you know.”
“What?” She was startled by Eric’s low voice. In her ----- she’d forgotten he was there.
“I can heal you.” He said almost reluctantly.
Shelby narrowed her eyes at him. “How?”
He quickly walked over and knelt by her side.
“If you take my blood. It has properties which allow us to swiftly heal.”
Now that was something she didn’t know and never learned in her classes. A secret that must have been closely kept by the vampires. She hesitated however. He’d already gone ( ) days without feeding and now he was offering to part with some of his much needed blood. But she felt the effects of hypothermia and the pain that was making it difficult to breathe.
Looking up at him she gave a small nod. Eric’s fangs descended and she heard the small crackle(?) as he bit into his wrist. He held it to her mouth and some of the blood dribbled down her chin. The metallic taste was overwhelming when she finally opened her mouth to receive his blood. She had an urge to spit it out but quenched it. As she drank more it suddenly became a lot easier to swallow. She couldn’t stop. The blood had taken on this irresistible quality.
She felt her head clearing and her body getting warmer which was odd given that his blood was so cold. Her shivering stopped and the pain subsided. Before she knew it Eric had pulled his wrist away. She breathed in deeply for she now felt better than she had in ages. Besides it’s healing properties it obviously came with a euphoric effect.
The feeling faded a bit when she saw how tense Eric looked. He was clenching his jaw and his hands had closed into fists.
“Remove the bandage. Let’s see if what I gave you was enough.”
He lifted her shirt before she could do it herself and gingerly removed the compress. In the low lighting of the tunnel she could see that her side was bloody but the wound had completely healed. She made to retrieve one of the wipes in the medical kit but Eric’s arm stopped her.
He traced his hand along where the cut had been and she twitched at the sensation. His fingers came away covered in blood and he stuck them one by one in his mouth, seeming to savor the taste of it. It was oddly erotic to watch.
He gave her an intense look when he was done and she could tell he was desperately trying to regain control of his bloodlust. In the blink of an eye he had returned to the far side of the tunnel and resolutely didn’t look at her for the rest of the evening.
She spent some time cleaning up and then sat back against the wall. She felt Eric’s blood coursing through her body. It made her warm and relaxed. The pleasurable feeling of arousal was setting in. Squeezing her thighs together she sighed at the tingle it gave her.
She tried staying awake but sometime before dawn she fell asleep.
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The sun was high in the sky and from her spot at the entrance of the tunnel it’s rays were heating her face. No rain. That had to be a first. She awoke well rested and feeling strong. As if she had never been wounded in the first place. She glanced into the darkness behind her to make sure Eric wasn’t near the light. But he wasn’t there and she figured he had moved so far down the passageway that the sun wouldn’t effect him.
First things first, Shelby needed a bath. Her skin felt dirty, dried blood was crusted on her skin and what had been her clean shirt. And she smelled. A very unappealing side effect from the cold sweats of the previous night. But she was alive. And she had Eric to thank for that.
Shelby grabbed her pack and stuffed in the small medkit, the dirty clothes, and her water bottles. The ration bars were already in there. She grabbed one and ripped at the silver packaging with her teeth. Taking a bite she immediately spit it out. The elements that had made it so unappetizing before seemed to be even stronger. Had it gone bad some how? Inspection of the wrapper didn’t yield much information as to whether it had been contaminated or not.
Not being particularly hungry she ignored the problem for now and set out with the pack (her tricorder and phaser in their holsters on her utility belt) into the forest. The trees swayed and rustled with the cool breeze. Shelby’s skin shivered a bit but the feel of it was refreshing.
Using her tricorder she accessed the coordinates of the river that she had saved on her last trip. The path it allocated led her through a dense outcropping of wood and granite boulders. It was funny to think that so many planets had similar life forms. Trees here looked almost the same as they did back on Earth, with a few noticeable differences of course.
Continuing her walk she noticed that her senses were abnormally heightened. The distinct scent of vanilla was in the air, something she hadn’t noticed the other day. Shelby breathed deeply and sighed at the content feeling it gave her.
Despite the time it took to walk to the river she found the trip very pleasurable. Not only was her sense of touch and smell stronger but when she entered the meadow leading to the water she was awe struck at the sight of it. The grass was a more vibrant green than she’d seen before and the quaking leaves on the trees shimmered in the light. The snow on the tall craggy mountains gleamed. She traced the flight of a bird across the sky and it’s grace and agility were beautiful. Everything seemed to shine and took on a new importance. She felt connected to the earth below her and the heavens above her. She could do anything.
She was high was what she was. Shelby bet that this was also one of the reasons that vampires never spoke of giving out their blood. This kind of ecstasy would be highly sought after on the black market. She’d have to speak to Eric about all this. How long was this supposed to last? Say they get rescued tomorrow and she’s still as high as a kite.
Crossing the meadow she finally reached her destination. The river was full and the sound of the water rushing over the rocks drowned out the surrounding forest noises. Shelby retrieved the water bottles and filled them up, depositing a chem tab in each of them to purify the water. The fluid tasted sweet thanks to the vampire blood.
Bathing in the stream was an experience. The freezing mountain water bit at her naked skin but at least she felt clean afterwards. Shelby quickly rinsed out both sets of clothes and set them out to dry. Laying on a large flat boulder she sunned herself. She would never normally do this, just lying naked out in the open. Yeah she slept in the nude and wasn’t ashamed of her body but she would still be mortified if an away team found her like this. Deciding not to care she let the warm day lull her to sleep.
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The sun was just beginning to set as she made her way back to Eric. No, not Eric, the tunnel. A quick check with her tricorder confirmed that the transmitter atop the hill was still working. It was just waiting for the atmosphere’s ionization to clear a bit so it could piggy back their distress signal on to any one of the planet’s four weather satellites.