Vampire King's Pet

Chapter Sixteen: How do you feel?

Avery's POV

Once, I was washed up and changed into clean clothes. Vera, the sweet older woman who came in just as her son was beginning to get harsh with my punishment. A punishment I don't even know why I was given.

She ordered Marcus to carry me from my room and all the way to the gardens. I've always wondered what these gardens looked like. I gazed at them often from my bedroom balcony, but was never given permission to go into them.

I could go wherever I wanted, but for some reason I was forbidden from entering the gardens. As we walked, I laid my head against Marcus' shoulder and closed my eyes. I was tired, very tired and just wanted to sleep.

But now that I had a chance to actually see what I can draw from the earth, I wasn't going to sleep. I needed this. My body needed this. Craved it.

"Oh I'm sorry dear, what's your name? Alex refuses to tell me the name of the girl he rescued from those wolves." I lifted my head and glanced over at her.

"Wolves?" I was confused.

"Yes, Alexei told me and his father when he arrived at your home, and I am terribly sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you're feeling. He told us that there were wolves there and that you fought a few of them off when he got to you just before they could kill you!"

"No ma'am. That's not how it happened." I whispered.

"Oh?" She looked over at me, confusion written all over her face.

"My coven was attacked by werewolves, yes. But I wasn't home. My Mom sent me out to gather supplies for the Blood Moon. We do it every year and mom and Dad have finally entrusted my brother and I to prepare for the ceremony." I spoke softly, but I knew she could hear me. I didn't like thinking about it all and what I'd lost. But if Alexei was gonna lie to his mom about our meeting, then I needed to go back to the dreadful day.

"It was early morning. I was gone for a little over an hour. Everything was on fire or ash when I returned home. My home and the homes of my extended family were gone. I..." I stopped, my heart ached as I thought of his pain-stricken face when I found him. "My boyfriend, he was still alive when I found him. He was a vampire just like you guys, my coven took him in and nursed him and showed him how to control his cravings." I couldn't help but smile after he finally got the hang of drinking blood from the wildlife surrounding us. Danny, always said he was a vegetarian because he never fed on humans.

My head lifted, and I gave her a small smile. "He was the one to call for help. But by the time Alexei arrived, no one was left alive. Except for me. And there were wolves there, but only one. I killed him." She glanced over at me. "It was the second son of Carter that I'd killed." Admitting that left a bitter taste in my mouth. I should only feel bad for killing his younger son when I was a kid. It was an accident, but he's always taken his revenge on my twin brother, Andrew. But the second boy? The one who bit me and tried to kill me after I arrived home? He deserved to die, and I don't feel bad about doing it.

"Carter? The alpha that killed my daughter-in-law and unborn grandson?"

"Yes ma'am. That's why Alexei brought me here. He stripped my magic and has refused to allow me to heal the way only I know how." I sighed. "I would have happily helped him, if he hadn't taken the only thing that makes me who I am." I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I felt empty without my powers, and with this bond Alexei and I share, I know he feels it too. "Genevieve bonded us together. I couldn't leave even if Alexei allowed me to."

Her eyes widened. "That explains the aura you have. I just thought you were an extremely powerful young witch. But now I see it's the bond. Has he marked you as his beloved?" I shook my head. I never wanted him to mark me.

"No," I murmured. And it scared me to think he could use that against me in the future. Not that he would ever want to claim me as his newly bonded beloved. First, I was just shy of a year and seven months to be of age for him to do that. Second he hates me. No matter the sweet words he whispers to me while using his dominance to make me submit to his will. I won't be lulled into him by only a few words. How I've been treated so far by him is downright abusive. If we were in the human world, the treatment I've gotten from him would have him sent to prison for child abuse and child molestation, considering I'm under the age of eighteen.

But in the supernatural world, he can do whatever he wants to me simply because he is a King who just so happened to be bonded to an underage witch because she tried to kill herself. Lucky me.

"Just over here, Marcus," Vera pointed to a stone bench in the middle of the garden. Just as I was being lowered, I shook my head, and looked up at Marcus' deep blue eyes. "I need to be able to touch the earth. I can't sit on the bench." Understanding flushed his face and he crouched down on the ground instead and placed me on the warm grass that sits in a patch of sunlight, warming me both inside and out.

I gritted my teeth as my tender thighs rubbed against the thick grass. The blades of soft grass rubbing ever so softly yet so harshly against my exposed skin. I masked my pain politely with a smile as I gazed away from Marcus, embarrassment filled me as I thought of what he thought of me. He was there while Alexei spanked me with the belt and the cane. I bet he thinks of me as defiant. Just as the other guards and his king do.

"Take your time, we have all the time in the world."

I gave her a genuine smile. "My name is Avery, by the way, ma'am."

She waved me off. "Enough with the ma'am. My name is Vera. Call it such." I blushed and looked down. I gave her a nod and glanced up at her once again. "Now go on and connect with the earth. I do enjoy watching the witches at work when they connect their inner self with the world." Her grin was beautiful and full of wonder as she stared at me in anticipation.

I cleared my throat, and she moved over to another bench that sat across from me. Marcus sat with her, also eyeing me. I shook off my nerves. Why was I nervous? I've done magic countless times before and have never felt this nervous before. Or maybe it was the thought of me never being able to feel the earth's natural magic. I mean how far did he strip me of my gifts? Was it just the ones with incantations and chants, like I couldn't defend myself if I were being attacked, or needed help with something I couldn't do without the extra help? Or was it simply spells I could not cast? Or did he target both? I was hoping it was the latter. Incantations were easier for me to do than spells.

I glanced up at the sky and took in a deep breath. The fresh scent of the flowers surrounding me filled my head and intoxicated me. My eyes fluttered shut slowly, and I unclasped my hands from my lap and moved them to the grass at my sides. My fingertips just barely touch the dirt below me.

When my fingertips touched the soil, electrical currents flowed through me as the earth's natural magic began slowly cradling me in its embrace. A smile formed on my lips as the energy from earth hit me beautifully. I dug my fingers deeper into the damp soil and called on Goddess Hecate to fill me with her power and heal me from the inside out.

It won't be instant if she accepts my call for aid. But it will help me get better. The wind blew past, causing my hair to flow softly in the wind. My hands and arms warmed and my smile grew. I could feel her. She answered my call. I knew she would.

The warmth spread from my arms and through my entire body. My heart skipped a beat and a gasp escaped my mouth.

"What happened?" Marcus' voice entered my ears, breaking my concentration.

I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky. "Thank you." I whispered for my goddess to hear. The wind blew past slowly again, and I felt a warm sensation on my cheek. It only lasted a few seconds, but I knew it was her saying she was happy to help.

I loved her and was blessed to be one of her children. But the ache of losing my family was and is still too hard to bear, so I hope she doesn't blame me for wanting to be with them.

I lowered my gaze and looked over at Vera and Marcus. "Did it work? How do you feel?" Vera, the bubbly older vampire asked with glee in her eyes.

"Yes it worked." I smiled. "But it will take a day or so to help me feel completely better." I told her and ran my hands over the grass. It was beautiful out here and the mixture of all the different flora made it so much better.

I felt like myself after being able to get in touch with nature again. My soul feels a little lighter now that I've been able to get back to my roots. I may not have had the full experience as I normally would, but this was enough.

I suddenly had the urge to turn around. And as I turned some and looked over my shoulder, my eyes locked with a pair of dark brown eyes. My mouth and throat felt extremely dry just seeing him standing just twenty feet away from where I was.

The happiness I was experiencing dimmed as he closed the gate and slowly came over to us. He's going to insult me again, I just know it.