>>16696 >On the other hoof, the unicorn was fascinated. Her eyes darted from fingertip to fingertip of Anon’s left hand. “One…two…three…four…FIVE!…” She glanced to his right hand, then his sock covered feet. “…THAT, means ten…THAT, means twenty!…they look like little sausages!…” >The earth mare gently pushed a fore hoof into the side of the unicorn. “You forgot one.” Turning to Anon, she added, “Didn’t she, Master Anon. A more precioussssss sausage.” She proceeded to giggle quietly, but uncontrollably to herself; sometimes snorting in a bizarrely cute fashion. Anon raised an eyebrow in surprise at the sudden sexual overtone. >The unicorn was confused for a moment, but then it dawned on her. “…right!…twenty ONE!” She declared with finality. She turned to the pegasus. “Do you suppose…it’s the same size as the others?” >The pegasus stuck her tongue out, curved it upward against the corner of her mouth and left it there. With a smirk, she slowly and cooly craned her neck and took a prolonged glance between Anon’s legs before answering her counterpart. “Oh, certainly bigger. Maybe, MAYBE, even MUCH bigger.” >This made the unicorn smile with satisfaction. “Twenty ONE!…three sevens!…seven three…primes all…holy numbers…three for stability…seven for the celestial spheresssssss…” >”Not holy enough for the likes of us! Besides, if you add the other two bits you get 23; even more prime-y!” joked the earth pony. >They all giggled in response, and Anon instinctively brought his knees together. Anon took all this in, not knowing how to respond, not knowing if it would even make any difference whatever he said. While they laughed, he tried a sudden movement toward the door. Perhaps he could break it open and dash out. But, the pegasus was too quick and blocked him even before her could get to his feet. She had moved like lightning and hissed as she did so. >The giggling then stopped abruptly and they all stared at him, all six blood-red eyes. Even the pegasus had decided to focus both of her eyes on Anon. Silence weighed down violently for a terrible few seconds. Looking from one to another, Anon quickly examined them, his heart thumping and his mind warning him of the extreme danger he was in. >The pegasus continually liked her lips with a smirk that could curdle milk. Her glare could only be described as murderous and calculating. >The unicorn wore a blank expression, but her eyes were overactive in their scanning of his body. They seemed disembodied such that they and her body were separate entities. >Finally, the earth pony wore a grin from ear to ear. Anon had never seen such a chilling and enthusiastic smile. Noticing Anon looking at her, the earth pony’s eyes opened as wide as they could go. Still maintaining the insane grin, she chomped her teeth together a few times. She seemed to be enjoying the moment, and the effect this had on Anon. Anon recoiled in horror. Not equine teeth, but rows of razor sharp daggers presented themselves. They glistened, pearly and moist, in the starlight; particularly the long the fangs. Terror took hold and he glanced at the others. They now wore the same grin and bore mouths full of lethal danger. “By the gods…what are you?” was all he could manage in his shock. >The mares ignored this question and closed in slowly. Closing his eyes in fear, Anon could now feel the breath of each mare on his face. He felt the tongue of the pegasus flick out and glide up his neck. She offered a final profane utterance. >”I WOULD wager that your taste is as exquisite as your smell.” >However, despite his impending demise, it was not to be. At that moment, the locking bolt on the door operated with a clank and the door flew open. >The mares turned rapidly in surprise. As it turned out, their turn was rapid enough that the unicorn’s braided mane swung into the air and slapped Anon square in the head; it slide down his body and cam to rest in his lap. >In trotted the Countess, who surveyed the scene with dreadful sternness. >The mares, in spite of themselves, now trembled.

>>16697 Thanks for posting your story here, Anon!

>>16697 A Countess and a vampire: >The Countess’s eyes darted from mare to mare in the tense silence. The mares shook and bowed, as if weighed down by the force of her presence. “What are you doing with Master Anon?” came the Countess’s menacing hiss. Anon now felt more at ease regarding the mares, but unsettled with regard to the absolute fury that burned in the amethyst eyes of the Countess. Though the wolves no longer bore their fangs at him, the alpha had arrived and danger had not diminished in the slightest. >The pegasus dared speak first, offering a groveling excuse. “Countess, we…we were playing…just playing. Nothing intended, no disrespect.” >The earth mare rode the coat tails of the pegasus to try and seal the explanation and avert whatever punishment they feared. “Yes, honest.” >To this, the unicorn added a rather pitiful, “Meant no harm…just a little…sip…sip…a little…” >”Silence! All of you! You know better than to interfere with what is MINE!” boomed the Countess. She took a breath and looked them over once more. “Your punishment will be severe,” she said in restrained anger. >The mares winced together and their trembling increased. “Yes, Countess!” they said in unison. Being an observer to this, Anon felt awkward and despite the terror inflicted upon him by these mares, he began to feel pangs of sympathy for them. Imagination could scarcely conjure up in his mind what their punishment would be. He looked up and caught the Countess’s eye. >Her features softened somewhat as she addressed Anon directly. “Please forgive them, Anon. They are young, they have much to learn…and they lack DISCIPLINE!” She had launched the last word into the trio like a harpoon, causing the mares to lower nearly to their bellies. Simply nodding to this, Anon could do little more than watch the scene unfold. >The Countess continued her admonition of the mares. “You are not ready for this yet, and you shall be ready only when I deign for it to be so! Until then it shall be the MILK before the MEAT!” she snarled. >The mares winced again and cowered. Now Anon became aware of the coil of rope that levitated by the side of the Countess, its lank free end snaked its way across the floor and out the door. Anon watched as she cast the coil to the floor in front of the mares. >The sound of the rope striking the ground caused the mares to snap their eyes open. They looked up at the Countess expectantly. >The Countess motioned toward the door with a nod of her head. “Now go! I shall deal with you three later.” >The unicorn picked up the end of the rope in her mouth and the three slunk out of the room, their heads hung in humility. The eyes of the Countess, shooting daggers, monitored their progress.
As they passed out of the door and down the hall, Anon saw the free end of the rope grow taut as whatever was on the other end resisted being pulled by the mares. A sharp angry yank, presumably by the unicorn, caused the beast to step forth down the hallway and past the door. Anon could not make out exactly what it was. However, judging by its shadowy form, it was larger than a pony and it wore a collared bell, for it tinkled as it went. >The Countess turned to Anon with a smile as the door swiftly closed itself. “We all become irritable when we become hungry, do we not?”

>>16729 Her civil tone calmed Anon somewhat and he felt at ease to stand. Nevertheless he remained on guard, knowing now the kind of creatures he was amongst. Slowly coming to his feat, Anon hesitated before answering the Countess. “I suppose. However, that was an unholy sort of hunger your servants had. I was certain I’d be eaten alive. Am I a prisoner here? Why was I locked in? When will I be released?” Anon asked his questions calmly, not knowing how the Countess would respond if he showed the anger he fostered at his situation. >The Countess replied cooly, “You are certainly not a prisoner, Anon. Locking you in was a precaution. It was clear earlier that you intended to continue on to Murkoz in the night. Had you done so, you surely would have been ripped apart by the dire wolves that lurk at this time of night.” The Countess continued with a smirk, “You may leave when it is safe to do so…when I decide it is so.” Anon thought he caught a glint of excitement in her eyes and voice as she described the action of the dire wolves, that made him uneasy. Yet, he pressed on with questions, as well as inching his way along the wall toward the door. “And what are those mares…they are certainly not ponies, rather something else entirely, something not exactly wholesome. And you for that matter, what exactly are you?” >The Countess watched Anon inch along the wall with apparent amusement, buoyed no doubt, on supreme confidence that the situation was entirely in her hoof. She replied with a laugh, “Foals of the night, kindreds of the darkness, you might say” — The Countess stepped to block Anon’s path, her voice fell to an aggressive whisper, and her eyes narrowed — “Denizens of the underworld’s depts.” Stopping in his tracks at being blocked and contemplating her cryptic answer, Anon looked to the door. “Devils, demons, goblins?” >The Countess caught Anon’s line of sight and glanced over her back to the door. Turning to face Anon again the lock shut with a loud clank. “Nothing so uncouth as that Anon. I am far more refined and sophisticated than those. And the mares you met, well, they are merely young and yet unformed.” Apprehension growing, Anon started inching toward the window. “T-they looked like full grown mares to me.” >”Yes, but they are young for the creatures that they are,” said the Countess as she again watched Anon with amusement. “And I suppose that is to protect me again from whatever lurks outside?” said Anon, nodding at locked door. >”Oh no! Now it is to keep you in here…with me,” she teased with a laugh. >The Countess walked over to the sofa and took a seat. She glanced over to the desk where Anon’s empty dinner plate sat. “Did you enjoy dinner? Working in Canterlot, it must have been ages since you’ve had meat. And do tell, what is your line of work there for Princess Luna?” Continuing to inch along, and now sweating from his brow, Anon stammered out a response in a flood of fear. “I-it was d-delicious. Um, as to m-my work, well, I-I’m a direct aide to Her Highness.” >A disdainful sneer worked its way over the Countess’s face. “Fascinating. And what sort of ‘services’ do you provide to her Highness?” Anon was too fearful to attempt a counter to the implied slur, which seemed laden with a jealous fury. He was almost to the window. “M-mostly clerical work. P-papers and things,” Anon replied. Curiosity getting the better of him, he asked a question whose answer her feared. “And have you had dinner yet?” >The sneer vanished and in its place a clever smile appeared. “Not yet,” cooed the Countess, shaking her head. Anon turned from the Countess to the window, just in time to see it slam shut and the latch engage. Deprived of light from the moon and stars, the room plunged into darkness and shadow.

>>16704 Happy to be posting, Anon. Hope you enjoy it!

>>16730 hmm, it gets in more serious tone than I thought it would

>>16730 >The flickering candles sent the shadows quietly dancing about the room as if they were consumed by a happy madness. Filaments of light moved across the Countess, seemingly animating her motionless form. In the gloom, the vibrant purple of her irises emitted an unwholesome glow. Adjusting to the sudden increase in darkness, Anon squinted. The Countess lay on the sofa before him. He blinked and she was instantaneously gone from that position and was now standing near the coffee table with a smile. >Inability to understand the dark magic at work here caused beads of sweat to roll down from Anon’s brow into his eyes. He blinked again, involuntarily, from the drop of sweat. Again she vanished from her position by the table, instantaneously reappearing, as Anon opened his eyes, at the high-backed chair a pace and half from him. His heart raced, his eyes locked to hers, and he dared not speak out of terror. He observed her grin now grow wider. As she did, glints of light reflected off her now revealed fangs. >Now a slow pursuit began. Anon stepped back and the Countess forward. Step by step they moved across the room, one hunting the other. One subsumed by fear, the other brimming with dominance and power. This creeping dance continued, until Anon reached the limit of his travel. Stepping back, his leg pressed against something wooden. Placing his hand back to feel what it was, and casting a quick glance over his shoulder, he could see that it was the bed. Just as quickly, he brought his gaze back to the Countess. >The Countess smirked, licked a fang, and cocked her head to one side. Softly, in whispery tones she said, “What now, Anon? What will you do? Perhaps, perhaps, acceptance of fate is an appropriate course of action. Is it not?” Out of the corner of his eye, Anon could see the door. By the strength that shear terror induced in a man, he could surely tear it open. He grabbed the bed post closest the door, in order to propel himself as he bolted. >There was a standoff. Anon watched the Countess, and the Countess watched Anon. He tightened his grip on the post. He took a slow breath. He readied his muscles to jolt him to the door. >The Countess maintained her grin while her eyes moved slowly in the direction of the door, as if to dare Anon. “You think so?” Anon frowned with resolve. He let out a small bit of breath and caught it suddenly. Just as suddenly, and with all the agility he could muster, he turned to spring toward the door. >But there, suddenly in the path he intended to dash through, was the Countess smiling and menacing as before. Anon caught himself with the bedpost before he fell over. Standing once more, his eyes fell upon hers. He felt drawn in to those violet pools; captivated completely and lost in their poison. >”Yes, Anon. Unfortunately, it was inevitable,” said the Countess sweetly, “And now the game is coming to an end.”

>>16736 True. But, I am going to take it in a more light hearted direction later, in various places. So, it will have heart here and there, like in the initial train scene. For now, in these scenes, I wanted to try and make it something like the old black-and-white horror films: spooky, creepy, mildly scary, but without blatant violence and gore in the form of characters being torn apart or dying in horribly graphic ways. I find the latter kind of horror distasteful and lacking subtlety (it's too "on the nose" for me). I intend this story to become comfy in many ways later on, but with a few dark twists (again, noting viscerally violent or distasteful). Hopefully, the reader comes away with a sense of connection to each of the characters. That's my hope anyway. I'll probably need to do a lot of re-writing later to get to that though.

>>16742 The purple of her eyes grew in his vision until he felt it submerge his consciousness. His body relaxed of its own volition and grew lethargic; his grip on the bed post loosened against his will and his arm dropped to his side. >Under the poison of the Countess’s dark force, Anon now moved according to her will. He stepped backwards, passed the footboard and up the side of the bed, eyes still locked on the Countess’s eyes. “As I explained earlier, things know better than to disobey me, even your own body,” she cooly explained. Feeling like an observer in his own mind, Anon felt himself climb onto the bed and lay on his back. >In another moment, there was vibration in the mattress as the Countess stepped on to the bed. She stepped over and straddled Anon, looking down at him face to face. As poisoned by darkness as he consciousness was, nothing could terrify Anon more than the vision of the Countess that was now only a short space away from his face. Long razor sharp fangs dripping with saliva were paired with a devilish grin. Her pupils, once round, were now slits like a predator about to kill its victim. The hair in her coat bristled and stood on end. Most unnerving of all, strands of her mane whipped wildly in different directions as if propelled by unseen currents of black intent. He guessed her intent. Anon focused his mind, and with all his might he managed to bring his hands up to cover his neck. Lacking strength, it was accomplished with the speed of molasses. >The Countess watched with amusement and let out a wild laugh. After this, she shook her head and simply asked, “No?” Anon could only glare back at her and see how she would respond. >The Countess smirked as a cunning look twisted its way on to her face. She moved her left hind hoof between Anon’s legs and ran it up, gently and slowly, along the inside of his thigh. Raising her chin a bit as her hoof reached its destination, she pressed it firmly into Anon’s groin. “I will drink from you tonight, Anon. But there are other places I can draw from besides your neck!” The statement was made with the sharpness of a threat and Anon felt it enter his soul, through his ears as well as his groin. Mustering as much focus as before, he lowered his hands from his neck; complete capitulation. >The Countess let out a small, throaty chuckle and glanced momentarily between her legs toward his groin. “Mmmm! As exotic a creature as you are, it seems you keep your genitals in about the same place as a stallion.” Internally, Anon was horrified and desired nothing more than to escape. However, under her power his face remained blank. >Nevertheless, it seemed the Countess knew what he was thinking, for her expression grew sympathetic. “Come, come, Anon. Is it not exhilarating to be hunted,” — She licked her fangs again — “to be caught…to be consumed?” She paused before continuing. “You can enjoy this, Anon. Or, you can resist,” — She nodded her head — “Or, you can experience it in terror!” >The countess removed her hoof from Anon’s groin and replaced it along his side. Then she lowered her weight on to Anon’s chest. >”The taste varies. Savory with fear. Spicy with resistance. Sweet when willing,” she again whispered. >Seeming to feel Anon’s thoughts in response, the Countess wasted no further time. Her mouth opened and she craned her neck towards his. Anon felt the needles plunge slowly into his neck, followed by the Countess’s lips forming a seal on his skin. The blood begin to leave his body, and life force with it. After a moment, he felt his arms lifted by her dark power and brought over her withers in a tight embrace. As by a drug, his consciousness slipped into ethereal depths, the warmth of her body on his the last of his observations.

>>16752 The Castle at Night: >Anon had lost consciousness — by the Countess’s own design to spare him the additional terror — but she continued to savor his blood. Thick and resplendent with flavors and tones unknown to her, as well as the silvery coolness of bits of soul, she drank it slowly down. Drinking slowly was as much to savor it as it was to avoid drinking too much. The Countess was judicious, and desired just enough for herself while leaving Anon enough to live and recover. >As she drank, she became more satiated and relaxed. Moreover, the weight of Anon’s arms upon her, though forced there by her dark arts, and his warmth was calming. She closed her eyes in ecstasy. The serenity of the feeling tore down her guard and she let out a satisfied, “Mmmmm.” >All the previous indications of ferocity were now gone. Her coat no longer bristled. Her true-black mane fell lank and beautiful over her withers, shoulder, and forelegs. Beneath her eyelids, her pupils were again circular and normal. >Coming to the final desired gulp, the Countess cautiously pulled away, severing her connection to his life force, his thoughts, and, his feelings. Her lips were the last to leave as they sopped up remaining blood, but her tongue did the rest to clean up the remainder until blood stopped flowing from the two needle holes. >She now looked down on Anon’s face, free of terror and submerged in deep sleep. >”Now sleep well, Anon,” she said with a smile, “dream well, and awake rested.” It was as much a true sentiment as an order that carried with it the force of her dark power. >The Countess levitated Anon’s arms to the bed, stood up, and moved to the edge of the bed. Before hoping down she looked back over her withers and levitated a blanket over him. >As she traversed the room, the candle holders replenished themselves with new candles, logs in the fireplace arranged themselves before roaring to life with flames, and a pitcher of water and cup placed themselves upon the nightstand by the bed for Anon. Finally, the shutters obeyed their master by unlatching and opening to let the starlight in through the window. >Quietly as shadow, the Countess opened the door and left, closing it behind her but leaving it unlocked. >Setting out to find the trio of mares, the Countess roamed the hallways of her castle. The same opposed mirrors that had reflected Anon into infinity, reflected nothing at all as she passed in the dimness of candle and moon light. The paintings of the previous holders of her station looked down upon her from their perches with approval as she passed by. >Many thoughts now passed through her mind regarding the strange creature that had wandered fearlessly into her web. Where had he truely come from and why? Why hadn’t she come across him sooner or felt his presence in Equestria?