The Vampire Lord and the Siren

Caroline’s POV: “There just like that. You’re doing good, you just need to focus just a little more” Sweat started beading on the young woman's brow as she concentrated on floating the broom. Faint footsteps that grew louder echoed off of the stone floors and walls . “Drat!” the broom falls with a clatter as she lost her focus. Quickly picking the broom up and grabbing rags the girls pretended to be cleaning as the guard rounded the corner. “What are you two doing here?” The guard grumbled. He seemed irritated at their mere presence. “What does it look like?” One of the young women responded sarcastically while raising an eyebrow. Taking a few steps till he was staring down at her he reached out and grabbed the front of her dress pulling her closer so she couldn’t back away to snarl in her face “You’re lucky you’re the current favorite right now Caroline. As soon as you aren’t I would watch that tone of yours. Well until you are nothing but another mindless human drooling after the Lord.” he let his fangs extend below his bottom lip to emphasize his point. He let go of her dress and pushed past her hitting her shoulder and knocking Caroline down as he continued on his rounds. His laughter reverberated back towards them as he walked further away. Looking down at her the other woman asked “Are you ok?” as she reached down and helped Caroline to her feet. “Yes, I’m not pregnant yet so it’s fine. Now let's continue your lesson, Helen.” As she brushed herself off with a determined look on her face. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. We aren’t supposed to do magic at all. He almost caught us. What if another guard comes by before we hear them and...” She was breathing quickly with her eyes wide, she was right on the verge of a full blown panic attack. “Stop Helen, take a deep breath.” Helen took a deep breath with her eyes closed like Caroline taught her to stop the panic from taking over. “Now that you’re calm, I need you to listen to me.” She stated while gripping Helens shoulders and turning her towards her. Caroling looked Helen in the eyes to make sure she was paying attention before continuing. “ I refuse to be used as a broodmare for the rest of my life. We have to escape. Preferably before we get pregnant with a vampire’s child. You know how dangerous giving birth is to one of those.” Helen nodded her understanding. They both have heard the stories and even witnessed one of the ladies dying during her delivery. “ So, if we stay, we will most likely die during the birth as the spawn of that asshole tears us apart. Or, we can escape and live.” Caroline explained as calmly as she could. Her own frustration and fear and what could happen had creeped into her voice making her words harsher than she intended. Helen whimpered at the sharp tone that Caroline used. Being only 18 she looked up to Caroline as an older sister and didn’t want to disappoint her. Taking a deep breath of her own Caroline regained control over her emotions and apologized to the younger woman. Time was running out for both of them. The mating ritual that the Vampire Lord Zatracení wants to perform is two nights from now. Both Helen and Caroline were to take part and all the vampires were greatly looking forward to seeing them mated to their Lord and no longer a run risk. Once that ritual was complete even if they didn’t become pregnant right after, they would never be able to escape. They would be enthralled to Zatracení and would lose all of their own sense of will. Zatracení's goal was to create the most powerful heir as he could. So, he and his minions roamed all over kidnapping any young woman that had strong magical potential. Caroline and Helen had the strongest potential as of yet. Zatracení harem had a total of twelve other women. All the others have already participated in the previous blood moons' ritual three years prior. Only Helen and Caroline had been found with enough potential for this blood moon. Which was why it was imperative that they master their magic so they could escape. Caroline wasn’t sure what the ritual entailed but she didn’t want to become a mindless zombie that only cared about Zatracení and having his children. She didn’t want any child of hers to be thrown into the vicious fight for the position of heir apparent. “Ok begin again” Helen sighed then concentrating once more and was able to make the broom not only levitate steadily but also control it’s movements so that it would sweep for them. Clapping excitedly Caroline told her that was more than enough. Sighing with relief Helen relaxed her concentration and let the broom fall gently into her hand as they finished up their chores. She taught Helen a few more simple spells and one warding spell. Each spell she had taught herself and all might prove useful when they escaped. A bell tolled deep inside the castle signaling the time for dinner for the human workers and when most of the vampire’s would awaken Gathering up the cleaning supplies the girls quickly head to the kitchen to get their dinner. The dining hall was huge. The stone walls were covered in thick heavy red tapestries with Zatracení crest embroydered in black on them. There were 25 tables all laid out and you sat based on your rank. Doors behind the head table led directly to Zatracení’s rooms. Caroline and Helen were assigned to sit near the back furthest away from the head table. Once they become the Lord’s women then they too will sit at the table slightly off to the left of the head table where all the other enthralled women sat. Taking a seat at their assigned table they waited for dinner to begin.Talking quietly about their plans to escape they tried not to draw attention. Around them sat other vampires, human servants, and the dozen human women in various stages of pregnancy. There were also two tables of children of various ages that sat near the head table. The children below ten years of age were on the right side table. Those that were over ten sat on the left. The hostile glances between the ten and over children were obvious even from the back corner where Helen and Caroline sat. Once ten the children are expected to start fighting for the throne. Raised just to fight till there’s only one left. A true survival of the fittest, smartest, and most ruthless. That's who will be heir apparent, that’s the whole point in him kidnapping all these women. Looking at the children made Caroline’s heart hurt. The thought of those innocent children being forced into killing each other with supper time being the only non combative time was more horrible than anything else she could imagine. What was worse was the pass time of some of the other vampires making bets on which child would be killed next and by who. A sudden silence that was followed by the scraping sound of a hundred chairs being pushed back suddenly filled the hall. All the vampires stood at attention with their right hand in a fist over their chests facing the doors at the end of the hall. The heavy double oak doors behind the head table opened with a band. Zatracení strutted in with his advisors right behind him. His black hair was slicked back and he was dressed in a well fitted black suit with a red silk shirt that had the top two buttons undone. Glancing over the room his exquisite blue eyes locked onto Caroline and held her for a few seconds till he released her. Sitting down he glanced over at the children, smirking at the ten and up table with satisfaction at the empty seats that weren’t there the night before. Caroline stared down at her plate shaking in fear. She didn’t want his attention on her and the look Zatracení had given her was full of lust. “Begin”Zatracení rough voiced boomed out through the hall. Almost immediately servers came around and started laying food out on the tables. The entire hall retook their seats and conversations started up again. Taking a few pieces of meat from a plate and vegetables from another, Helen and Caroline started to slowly eat. A sense of doom started to settle in the pit of Caroline’s stomach. Unsure of where the doom was coming from, Caroline started picking at her food as Helen kept talking and rambling on not noticing anything was wrong. Looking over at the head table she noticed Zatracení eyes were on her again. This time he wasn’t just staring at her. He was leaning over and talking to his advisor who was also looking at her. Lowering her gave quickly she sunk lower in her seat trying desperately to escape his gaze. Helen, unsure of what was going on, kept trying to ask what was wrong. Unable to answer Caroline could only shake her head as tears started pooling in her eyes and running down her face. She was so sure that this was not gonna end well. As if right on cue one of the advisor’s came over to the two women. “Ms. Caroline your presence will be required in Lord Zatracení bedchamber tonight.” the advisor said while bowing his head. Helen stared in shock while Caroline nodded quickly, unable to stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks. “What are you gonna do?” Helen hissed at her. Turning to look at her Caroline couldn’t think “What can I do?” she sobbed out before her throat closed up in despair. Unable to finish eating, Caroline got up, made her excuse and ran back into her room to wait. She curled up on her bed and sobbed hysterically for what seemed like forever. She had just gotten herself under control when the dreaded knock came from her door. Getting off her bed seemed like the hardest thing she had ever done. When she opened the door a servant bowed before saying “I’m here to escort you ma’am to Lord Zatracení’s chamber.” Nodding numbly she stepped out into the hallway and closed her door behind her. Walking down the halls she stared at her feet and kept to the pace the servant set trying to wipe the remains of her tears off her face. To quickly the walk ended when the pair of huge doors that were heavily ornate stood in front of her. Taking a deep breath to brace herself the servant knocked twice then slowly opened one of the doors bowing his head as Caroline slipped inside. Dropping into a curtsy as soon as she walked in, Caroline kept her head down. The room was dimly lit with candles, blood and leather were the dominant smell emanating from the room. Hearing the bed creak made Caroline tense. Listening for any other noise the minutes passed by. What is he waiting for?