//------------------------------// // Chapter ll - Why so Afraid? // Story: Can You Keep A Secret? // by The Pony of Lost Legend //------------------------------// Rarity found herself starring into Rainbow Dash's blank eyes. She had been tasked to watch over the rainbow maned mare for a few hours, after her, Double Diamond would take over. "What does it feel like...?" Rarity whispered, knowing she was only speaking to herself, for Rainbow couldn't hear her. Rarity rose from her seat and walked to her friend, softly placing a hoof on her head. "To not have to worry about starvation...or the lust to kill. Even if for such a short time, it doesn't seem like a punishment...but a blessing..." Rainbow still couldn't hear her, but Rarity continued to speak to her, petting her mane softly. Rainbow would have never let Rarity be this close to her if she was conscious, she never let anypony near her in all honesty. Rarity's train of thought stopped as a soft knock came from the door. Blushing as she yanked her hoof away, she turned to see Double Diamond in the doorway. "I-I um...I..." She tried to explain but he just raises a hoof to silence her, smiling softly. "No need to explain," He says. "I know how you feel..." He adds with a sigh. "Wishing you could be like her..." Rarity blinks as she looks to him, his attention on Rainbow. Double Diamond was, without a doubt, the most silent pony of her Mistress and Master's coven. He never spoke endless he was called upon or spoken to. Rarity could do nothing but nod in agreement. "Well, go ahead and leave Miss Rarity, I can take over," He says, looking to her. "O-Okay...Thank you," She says and walks out of the room. Double Diamond settles into the chair that Rarity had left. He sighs and lays his head against the wall. Keep your patience.. A voice in his head told him as hunger stabbed his gut. Double Diamond would never doubt his Mistress or Master, but his hunger grew by the day. He was always the last to feed on the food Discord managed to catch without getting caught by the towns ponies, and it was beginning to take affect on him. "You're seeming to have trouble." A voice said from behind him, startling him as he whips around to see Discord. "N-No, Master, I-I'm not," He stammered as he tried to regain himself. Discord frowns, no doubt it was the most serious Double Diamond had ever seen him look, and it scared him. Discord walks to him and lifts his chin with a paw. "How about I help you out so that I don't lose my favorite of this lot," He says with a small smile. Double Diamond tilts his head. "What do you mean Master?" He asks. Discord leans forward for a moment. "I'm going to let you do something, something that cannot and will not leave this room," He mutters in Diamond's ear. "Do I make myself clear?" He asks, pulling away with a raised eyebrow. Double Diamond nods. "Yes Master," He says softly. Discord then lifts his paw to him. "You know what to do," Discord says. Double Diamond blinks in shock. "M-Master you couldn't possibly mean t--" "I do, now do it before I change my mind," Discord says sternly, leaving Double Diamond on the edge of his words. Taking a deep breath Double Diamond nods slowly. "Go on, we don't have all day pretty boy." Double Diamond moves forward, feeling himself close to Discord's lion paw, he shivers slightly as his lips brush against it's fur. Relax The voice said, and he did. Taking a deep breath, Double Diamond carefully leans all the way in and sinks a pair of his own dagger-like teeth into his Master's paw. Discord didn't seem to even flinch as he did so, like he'd done this many times before... But Double Diamond did not dare to ask...For right now, he was by no doubt the luckiest pony in this coven. ~Later~ Discord had finally managed to grab a bear out of the Everfree forest, but the mare feared it wouldn't be enough to feed the whole coven. Her mate must have noticed her distress because in a matter of seconds, he appeared beside her. "What's wrong my dearest?" He asks softly. She looks to him, frowning softly before turning back to the feeding coven. "Where should I start?" She asks softly. "At the beginning of course," He said, earning a small giggle out of her. "Of course...," She mutters. "Well first off...I fear that they aren't getting enough to eat..." Discord follows her gaze. "Ah, I can see why you fear that..." He mumbles, looking down to the set of fang marks that Double Diamond had left. Discord quickly hid it as she looked to him. "So you fear it as well?" She asks. He nods. "I do," He says softly. "I do not wish for any of them or us to go out and kill anypony..." She nods, it was as if he had read her mind... "Exactly, and Twilight keeps wandering so close to the cottage...I don't want her hurt...or turned..." The mare says softy. Discord sighs. "I promise you that she won't," Discord says, knowing that he may not have much faith in his own promise. The mare cuddles close to him, laying her head on his chest. He smiles softly and runs his paw softly through her mane, comforting her. "I'm happy I have you, Discord," She whispers. He chuckles. "Good."