Chapter 12: Building trust
1071 Words
POV: Sierra
***
"I suppose the only place to start is the beginning. 27 years ago, May was born to two powerful magic users, meaning that she is technically a witch."
Blake sits looking at me intently, eyes wide.
"By sheer chance, May was born incredibly powerful. Too powerful. Do you know what happens to a body not strong enough to contain that much magic?"
I don't know how much knowledge Blake has of the magical world. He was a cleric's assistant when I turned him and kept mostly to himself.
"I don't think I've ever heard of it. To be honest, other than that coven we ran into about eight decades ago, I've never met a witch."
I nod. "Well, too much unstable magic will burn someone up inside, slowly consuming them from the inside out."
"So how is May still alive?"
"That's where I come in. When she turned 6, she started falling ill as her magic began to present. Her parents reached out to everyone nearby for help and they ran into me."
I sit with the memory for a moment. I can recall it like it was yesterday.
Her parents were terrified when they showed up on my door, a smiling young girl holding their hands. They stunk of sour desperation.
"Mistress?"
"Right, yes. They asked me to Mesmerise her, remove any memory she had of magic. I warned them it might not be what they wanted but they didn't care. Their daughter was dying."
Blake looks at me with new admiration. It's uncomfortable to have such pride directed at me, and from an inferior, no less.
"What?" I snap.
"You pretend to be so evil and cruel. But you helped them."
A bitter laugh comes out against my will.
"Yes, and that's worked so well for me, hasn't it? Running ragged for a human who doesn't even know who I am?"
"I didn't mean-"
I snarl at him, claws digging into the table.
"Another word, Blake, and I'll leave you in the sun."
It wouldn't kill him, since he isn't a full vampire, but it would hurt. A lot.
He hangs his head, not daring to move.
Anger burns through me. How dare he suggest such a thing? I've killed hundreds over the course of my life, most of them for fun.
I've spent years weakened and emotional. Tied to someone because of a foolish act of kindness.
I would never make that mistake again.
"Get me a drink."
Blake obeys silently, pouring the blood into my glass.
"Sit."
He does.
"Blake. I will give you a single pass this time, but do not speak of me that way ever again. When May reached full maturity of her powers, some sort of bond was created between us, I imagine as a result of the Mesmerise. When this happened, my powers weakened, my self control disappeared and I am forced to feel her pain. I didn't choose to lust after her."
I keep my voice level, deadly calm.
"And every time I see her, I risk her memory coming back and killing her. Which will kill me. But I can't stop myself either. This is nothing but a curse."
Realisation dawns on Blake's face as he goes a sickly grey.
"You were never trying to protect her. You were trying to protect us."
Finally. Despite my frustration, the relief at having someone to share the burden with is immense.
"If she gets hurt, so do I. If she dies, so do I. I can't be near her but I can't be away from her. I'm stuck like this."
I don't have it in me to be angry anymore. It's been years of the same: trying to muster up rage at May and only falling deeper as the bond grows stronger. I used to go months without seeing her properly, now every week that passes makes my skin crawl.
"Mistress, I had no idea of the burden you were taking on for us. For me. Please, let me help you."
I smile and let out a small chuckle.
"This is the nicest you've ever been to me. But you can help. I've been trying to understand it for years and I think I'm close."
Reaching down, I flick open the clasps on the chest.
Inside, there are scrolls, thick, leather-bound tomes and a selection of gemstones.
"These are borrowed from the main library in Sanguine City. I made a trip there when the bond first appeared. I've gone through them a dozen times and they've uncovered many secrets but nothing about this bond. They have revealed the location of someone who might know, though."
"What's Sanguine City?" Blake asks.
I smile, wanting to leave this as a surprise.
"You'll see shortly. It's time for these to be returned. I think now is the best time to go. The distant should help dispel some of the...urges brought on by the curse."
Blake sits with the knowledge, pouring himself a glass to drink.
I sip at mine, enjoying the thick taste on my tongue. It's been kept fresh, a young man who died with morphine in his system. It's rich and soothing.
"Sanguine City is hard to reach. It doesn't stay in the same place. Too easy for humans to find."
I take the thickest scroll from the chest, laying it flat on the table and unrolling it.
At first, it appears blank. Then slowly, scrawling letters unfurl across different parts and beneath them, little sketches of prominent buildings. When it's fully unveiled, the words 'Sanguine City' are bolded across the top.
"Wow. But how does this help us actually find it?"
I tap the page.
The map zooms out, showing the city's location relative to nearby landmarks.
I tap it again to zoom back in.
"Oh, that's useful." Blake gasps.
His wonder is rather cute. In many ways, he's still so human.
Being a vampire's servant doesn't have as much of an affect on a person. Blake still has most of his emotions, he can enjoy food and his heartbeat isn't artifical like mine.
But he also isn't as strong or powerful as I am, and I can compel him to obey me if I need to.
"We'll leave tomorrow evening. Take a day's rest before packing. It looks like we're going to be away for a couple of days."
"Yes, Mistress."
Blake pauses at the door.
"Thank you."
- Writer
