To your surprise, Marquis Rajes awaits you alone in the dining room, and although the table is set, there are no servants present. Although it is not a banquet hall, it is a fairly large room befitting of high nobility, and the marquis rises from the seat at the head of the table as you enter.
"That will be all, Birea," the marquis nods to Birea, and you look over your shoulder to see that she has not entered, but rather closes the doors behind you. "Miss Vauntier?" You turn back upon hearing your name, and give a blank look as you realize Marquis Rajes has pulled out a chair for you. And not just any chair, but the chair at the foot of the table. You might know next to nothing about noble etiquette, but you do know that the chair at the foot is traditionally reserved for the hostess. Although you know you are here with the intention of playing the role of the marquis' companion, you still can't help but feel slightly rattled. Still, since the marquis seems so calm, you steel yourself and take a seat.
There is no food on the table, so you assume the marquis will summon the servants. However, instead of returning to the head of the table, the marquis grabs what appears to be a bottle of wine from the sideboard, as well as two wineglasses, one of which he places before you.
"Given your appetite the other night, I assume food currently holds little attraction for you," Marquis Rajes states with a bitter smile. Your cheeks heat slightly in embarrassment, but there is also curiosity. Before he uncorks the bottle, the marquis gives you a searching look. "I believe this may be a little disconcerting, but I hope you will hear me out first"
So saying, the marquis opens the bottle and begins pouring liquid from the bottle into your wineglass. At first, you assume it is a red wine, but the color is more vivid, and the viscosity is off. A ferric scent tickles your nose, and suddenly your entire being is focused on that glass, your fangs almost aching in anticipation. You know with every fiber of your being that the contents are blood. An intense thirst wells up inside you, surprising you, as you have not felt as strong a longing since the night you met the marquis. You involuntarily open your mouth slightly and breathe more heavily.
"I know at this point the desire to drink can be overwhelming, but if you hold your thirst in check, your self-control when imbibing will slowly increase," the marquis suggests as he pours a glass for himself, then pulls out the chair to your left and takes a seat. You are too focused on the glass and cannot even tear your eyes away to realize that the marquis did not return to the head of the table.
"Truthfully, it is not pure blood, since it was necessary to add various ingredients to limit coagulation and preserve its nature," the marquis continues, his eyes alternating between you and his glass, which he swirls slowly in his hand. "I have found that nearly any type of blood will sate the thirst, even that of animals. However...none of this compares to the ecstasy of fresh human blood, although I am uncertain as to why."
Your brow furrows slightly at this, and the marquis does not miss the fact that while up to this point, you were holding back out of discipline, but now there is an air of disgust to your tension. A gleam of satisfaction flashes in his eyes.
"You needn't worry, this blood has been provided by willing volunteers, this particular vintage by a human-turned-dryad who is alive and well, and enjoying the recompense provided for a momentary bloodletting," Marquis Rajes reassures you, as he raises his glass slightly in toast, then takes a small sip as though enjoying a fine liquor.
You feel the tension in your body lessen a bit, as unconsciously you cannot help but be relieved at his explanation. However, you are still not certain if you should drink. Granted, you have already drained two living creatures of blood, one mortally, but each time could be blamed on a blinding instinct. You knew this time that your body did not need the blood, but it wanted it. To drink this glass meant accepting that you were now and forever a vampire, and there was no going back.