The Shifter and Her Human Mate

Chapter 3

Ellie's POV

A loud shriek startled me awake suddenly, my head pounding and nausea hitting me. Brief flashes of last night came to me. I remember meeting two other women, dancing in the nightclub, taking shot after shot to build up nerve to reject the fated mate I will never have.

Goddess, how in the world did I make it back to my hotel in the state I was in?! And who put me to bed? Couldn't have been Ma, she'd have b****d me out for being in that state. Dad had to have done it.

"Ma? Da?" And then I realized....

I was not in my hotel room. I sat up fast and looked around, completely unfamiliar with my surroundings. Just how messed up did I get last night?! I jumped out of bed and immediately sat back down, dizziness and nausea hitting me. I grabbed the trashcan and vomited violently.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty! No time for that mess!" I stiffened, not recognizing the voice. I turned slowly and saw a much older woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She looked old and angry.

And she was a Fae. Not a powerful one, but a Fae nonetheless.

"I know what you are, and you know what I am. If you know what's good for you, you had better listen very carefully to what I have to say." She said slowly.

"Where the hell am I! Where are my parents?!" I jumped up in fright, but Ariana raised her hands to stop me.

"Don't make me use my magic, girl. I don't want to ruin that pretty face!" The woman hissed at me.

"And I don't want to use mine either. So tell me where I am! My parents are probably looking for me and may have already called the police!" The woman's eyes widened in surprise.

"Your parents, huh? Marshall didn't tell me that." Something clicked when I heard Marshall.

"The man who owns the nightclub, right? Get him in here right now!" I screamed.

"Hey! I give the orders here, little princess!" The old woman raised her hands and I raised mine, ready to battle.

"ENOUGH! Ariana, you know how Marshall gets about us girls fighting! You two better knock it off!!" A blonde with a scarred-up face came in and smiled at me.

"Wow! YOU are going to make many men VERY happy!" The blonde pointed at me and clapped her hands in delight.

"What do you mean by that? I need to get back to my parents! They're going to be looking for me!" Blondie's eyes snapped up at me.

"Ariana? Doesn't the new girl know yet?"

"She's nursing a hangover and just retched into the trashcan, Simone. Now isn't a good time!" Ariana snarled back.

I stared at the two of them bickering, slowly trying to back towards the door. For a brief moment, I wondered if I should use my power to try to get away. My power is that of camouflage. For about five minutes, I can blend into my surroundings. It is a power I seldom have to use. Just as I was about to try, the two whipped their heads back towards me. Before I knew it, Simone was at my side with her hand on the door.

"Don't try it!"

"I was just...trying to get some water." A few seconds later, there was a knock at the door. Simone opened it and when I looked at the man standing there...

"Marshall Sherman." I whispered, and he smiled.

"I see you remember me, Ellie." I stared at Marshall, my Fae sense of alarm on high alert. I was in the room with three very dangerous people. Memories of last night finally started to come through as I stared at everyone.

"I remember dancing with you, Simone. And Ariana, I remember you bringing me this peach drink. After that, I remember nothing. The three of you drugged me, didn't you!" I broke down and sat on the bed. A strong tobacco permeated the air as Marshall lit a cigar.

"This is what we do, Ellie. I run a service for supernaturals and for humans. Some call it a p*o*tituion ring, but according to my tax returns it's an escort service. I have a sect of clients who love Faes. But that damnable Fae mate bond keeps my numbers down. So, we recruit." Marshall explained, his lack of emotion chilling me to the bone.

"You mean kidnap! You don't realize what you have done! I'm from Ireland and am here on a tourist visa that expires in a week! Also, my parents will stop at nothing to look for me. Especially my father!! Just let me go, I'll never tell anyone..." I screamed. Simone ran over to me and slapped me hard across the face.

"Shut up, b***h!!"

"SIMONE!" Simone suddenly recoiled in fright at Marshall's loud voice. She went down to her knees and sobbed.

"Please sir, don't hurt me!" Marshall grabbed her and in a flash had her back against the door, his hand around her throat.

"I can't have this girl's face all marked up, you understand? The ONLY person allowed to discipline these girls is Ariana! NEVER OVERSTEP AGAIN SIMONE!" Marshall screamed right in her face and dropped her to the floor. He turned to face me.

"Eleanor Grace Gallagher, I know everything there is to know about you. You are from Belfast, you graduated year 11, you work part-time at a bookstore, and you are due to start University in a month. I have your identification and I have your passport. From now on, you are mine. You will do what I say and you will damn well do it when I say it!" Marshall bellowed at me as I cried.

"What are you going to do with me!" I cried.

"You will work for me and earn your keep. My clients pay a high price for even just a few hours for a Fae, especially one as fresh as you. I bet you're a virgin, aren't you? Don't lie to me, I have a doctor who will examine you whether you cooperate or not!"

"Please, don't let me sell that part of me. I'm saving it for my fated mate!" I sobbed hysterically.

"Girl, please! You were blubbering all last night how you have to reject your mate because he's a middle-aged human!" Simone snapped. Marshall doubled over laughing.

"Well now, that is one hell of a nasty trick your Goddess played on you, young lady! Ariana, now that I've explained how things are going to go, get our newest girl ready. I want her to make her debut in a few days. I have many buyers willing to break her in." Marshall smiled wickedly and left, Simone simpering behind him.

"There really isn't much to this life, Princess. You lay on your back and men screw you. Except you make a lot of cash without marriage and all that bulls**t." Ariana cackled at me.

"How many other Fae women have you arrachtaighs forced into this so-called life!!" I snarked at her.

"You would do well not to make an enemy of me, Ellie. I'm the one who helps Marshall pick the men you will be escorting." The threat in Ariana's face was unmistakeable.

"Why do you do this?" I whispered.

"Because I owe Marshall my life. Many years ago, my fated mate rejected me almost immediately after he met me. Like you, I went out to blow off some steam and met a couple of men. I didn't realize they were demons until it was too late. I will spare you the details, but after they were done with me, they left me to die in an alley where Marshall found me. He nursed me back to health, and we went into business together not long after. My job is to help Marshall find Faes and other supernaturals and set up the escort dates." Ariana explained.

"And what's your other friend's job?"

"Ugh, don't get me started on Simone! I told Marshall not to take her on because of her face, but apparently she has other talents and a few regulars that keep Marshall's wallet happy." Ariana scoffed. This woman was an open book with me, which I was going to use to keep her at my side.

"What happened to Simone's face?" I asked her innocently.

"She has told a few different stories about what happened. Her latest one is that the Fairy King, Arlen Miller, did it in retaliation because she killed her abusive mate. Who knows what the truth actually is?!" Ariana rolled her eyes. There was certainly no love lost between her and Simone.

"So tell me, Ellie. What's your power?"

"I'll show you." I sat down in the chair in the small bedroom and used my powers to disappear into it. Ariana raised her eyebrows in admiration.

"That's a unique power. It will serve you well. I can help you, Ellie. But you have to do just what I say. Got it?" I nodded, hoping to the Heavens I could trust her.

Ariana took a deep breath as she circled me. "First things first, don't count on using that power to try to get out of the appointments we set up for you. Marshall has a lot of control over them, and he has been doing this for a very long time. Do NOT underestimate him." I nodded quietly.

"Second, for the time being, you are going to be Marshall's prized girl. You're Irish, you're gorgeous, you're a Fae and most importantly, you are a virgin. How much do you want to stay that way?" Ariana stared at me carefully.

"I honestly don't know anymore. This is such a mind f**k, Ariana. First, my Goddess mates me to a man I could never have, and then you all kidnap me and are selling me to the highest bidder?!" I huffed.

"Believe it or not, I want to help you. Marshall went too far in taking you and I don't want him to take me down with him. While I can't do anything right now, I can help you make it a little easier to stay ahead. What do you say?" Ariana told me. I stared at her, knowing I didn't have much choice but to trust her.

"Alright. Show me what to do."

Ariana worked with me over the following days. She gave me tips on how to flirt with men and listen to what they were saying. Ariana taught me how to apply make-up and make myself look intriguing and mysterious. Since some of Marshall's clients were much older than me, she had me read up on news, music, and contemporary literature to keep them engaged in conversations. She told me if I could keep up intelligent conversation, it could help create an emotionally intimate experience and the client may not try to initiate physical intimacy.

Eventually, the inevitable came. Ariana told me one morning that I would be set up with a client later that night. I was visibly nervous as she did my hair.

"The man's name is Mr. Bates. I don't know much more except that he's from Ireland and very excited to hear we have an Irish girl." Ariana assured me as she curled the ends of my hair.

"Ariana? Can I ask you something?" I whispered as she finished up.

"Yes, losing your V-card is going to hurt. But only for a bit." She looked at me, her usually blank blue eyes with empathy.

"Did I reject my fated mate the night you found me?"

"No." Ariana confirmed. Secretly, I was relieved.

"Do you think I should? Before I do this?"

"I can't tell you what to do, Ellie. But clearly you want your mate. So do what I taught you to do. You keep your client talking as much as you can. But if he wants to get physical, you have a choice to make and know whatever you do, Marshall won't be too far behind!"