Call Me Master

3

After dumping most of my bags into the closet and taking my toiletries to the bathroom, Master sat down at his desk and began to comb over a stack of paperwork while his foot tapped the floor in an irritating rhythm.

Apart from the incessant tapping, the only thing I could focus on was the balcony; as a child I always wanted one, and even though this one wasn't my own, I was still grateful to have it. Silence stretched while I daydreamed, and before I knew it, I was lost in a trance and staring like an i.diot at the balcony doors.

"Planning to jump, pet?" the Master asked out of nowhere, snapping his fingers to get my attention.

"Huh?" I asked in confusion, my voice cracking the tiniest bit.

"You're staring at those doors like you're either planning on jumping ... or you're contemplating life," he explained.

It's most definitely the latter…

"I'm not thinking of jumping, Sir-"

"Don't call me 'Sir'," he snapped, slamming a fist down on the desk. "It makes me feel old!"

You? Old? Nah!

Though itching to crack a joke at his petty complaint, I settled on flashing him an attitude-ridden smirk. "So, what would you have me call you, then?" I asked him, my voice both bitter and honey-sweet.

He looked...what's the polar opposite of amused? Frankly, he looked at me like I had a tree growing out of my head! "Call me 'Master' and leave it at that, alright?" he sternly commanded.

Smirking with even more attitude, I c*cked my head a bit. "Yes, Master," I bit out sardonically

Looking pointedly back at me with a curled lip and narrowed eyes, he sucked a deep breath in through his nostrils then released it in a drawn-out, irritated manner.

Almost instantly, my gaze averted to the suddenly-appealing floor; I wished I'd have either had more control over myself or just kept my mouth shut altogether at that point!

Clicking his tongue, he returned his attention to his paperwork.

Releasing a shaky breath, I clammed up and sank back into the couch, mildly wishing it would just swallow me whole. Who ever knew that silence could be so damn loud, anyway? Certainly not me!

After some time, the Master stretched and repositioned in his chair, effectively gaining my attention. "You sure are quiet over there, pet," he stated the obvious. "You were a spitfire at the Center."

The mere mention of that place stirred an anger deep within me – one that I had to fight like hell to suppress! "Can I ask you something, Master?" I said, full-on desperate for a change of subject.

Through curious eyes he studied me for a moment, then he gestured for me to continue.

"Why'd you make a deal with Ms. Hannigan?" I inquired. "I mean, your kind doesn't exactly need permission to swoop in and take whatever you want…"

He scrutinized me for a moment longer then returned his attention to his paperwork. "You're not ready to know that information yet," he answered plainly.

Try as they might, my eyes just couldn't help themselves as they lowered in pure irritation.

So, he's gonna keep me in the dark about it? Rude! How does one convey to another that they HIGHLY disapprove without actually saying the words?

"Look, all you need to know for now is that your lady's decision stopped the Center from shutting down, effectively saving the lives of countless young girls as result," he concluded, the absence of couth as he spoke almost comical – almost.

Was that your attempt to make me feel better, Sir? If so, you need major lessons…

With a wicked flash of his fangs came the realization that I was most likely pushing his limits and that my best course of action going forward was to remain glued to the couch with my arms folded across my chest, which is exactly what I did!

After a stretch of tense silence, he gathered the papers together and stacked them into a neat pile to the side of the desk, then he rolled his chair back and turned it slightly, stretching a bit before standing up. Next, he disappeared into the bathroom for a minute then stepped back out carrying two large, fluffy towels in one hand, and with the other hand, he curled a finger and beckoned me in a come-hither motion. "Come here to me, my pet," he rasped.

Good grief, why do you have to say it like that?!

On wobbly legs I stood, then I slowly walked toward him, facing off with him in a brief "Who Can Give The Stinkier Stink Eye" competition before grabbing at the towels.

"Go and take a bath or shower," he instructed me as he jerked the towels toward himself. "I don't really care which. And try not to take too long, pet. I'll be back in a little bit." With his parting words, he shoved the towels into my hands then headed toward the bedroom door.

With his back to me, I bolted into the bathroom and slammed the door behind myself – albeit most unintentionally.

Should I lock it? Surely he won't just barge in here … right? Oh, wait! He's a vampire! Aren't they able to, like ... materialize wherever they want to out of sheer will-

The sound of the Master's muffled laughter from down the wing interrupted my thought process.

What the hell's so funny anyway?!

Grumbling and irritated, I turned my attention to the spacious bathroom; it was an elegant carbon copy of the bedroom with its white walls and gray tile floor. A wide double-sink and equally wide mirror stretched across the wall opposite the shower, and the toilet was in its own little room off in the corner – which I was most thankful for! To the left of the sink sat a massive garden tub along the wall, easily big enough for two. The odd man out in this set-up was the loveseat that sat against the wall opposite the tub; I'd seen benches of sorts in bathrooms before, but never a loveseat!

I'll ask him about that at a more appropriate time.

Per the Master's request, I showered quickly, sacrificing meticulousness in favor of not going against his specific instructions. After performing my post-shower ritual, I wrapped myself in a towel then slowly opened the door and peeked out.

Surely he'll give me my privacy … won't he?

Hesitantly at first, I bounded toward the closet and shut myself away, then I dressed lightning-quick and on high alert; I didn't wanna be caught with my pants down – literally! Moments later, I cracked the door open and peeked out to find the bedroom still vacant. Relieved, I emerged, but because I didn't have a clue as to where the Master had disappeared to and when he'd be back, I chose to plop down on the couch with my phone in hand – which, honestly, I was surprised he hadn't taken it from me yet.

Time passed me by in a banter of chaos and bullshit in the wonderful world of f******k. I've never been much of a social media buff and I seldom ever post anything because, frankly, it's just not my thing. Social media can be a wonderful, powerful tool, but it can also be an absolute detriment if you're not careful with it.

Before long, a bird's melodic chirping interrupted my scrolling. With my interest piqued, I hopped up and strolled to the balcony doors to have a looksie, pleasantly surprised to find a little sparrow sitting on a sectional underneath a far-extending awning to the right. "To open the doors, or not to open the doors. That is the question...," I mused. Ultimately deciding against it, I released a sad sigh then trudged back to my spot on the couch, mumbling to myself about how badly I wished I could have a little time to myself out there.

Moments later, the bedroom door opened and Master stepped a foot inside. "You hungry, pet?" he asked.

Initially, I wasn't sure how to respond. I mean, I'm not a stupid woman, for crying loud! I know that I'm essentially a blood bag to a vampire; what I don't know is if his idea of dinner was to make a meal of me and whether or not he'd ever do so in the presence of his staff! "I'm starving, actually," I nervously replied, my growling stomach reiterating my words.

Chuckling to himself, he took me by the arm and pulled me into the hall, then we wandered down to the kitchen where Hen, Jerome, and a younger-looking woman I didn't recognize were waiting. The unfamiliar woman looked older than me but younger than Hen, and she wore an olive-green, uniform-style dress with an apron that matched Hen's tied around her waist.

"Good evening, Miss," she greeted cordially.

"Oh, good evening, Ms.-"

"Tilly, Honey," she interrupted, "and you must be the young Master's new pet-"

"Her name's Harper," Master corrected her, obviously irritated with the informality.

The woman mumbled an apology under her breath then excused herself to get back to whatever it was she was doing before we walked in, looking back over her shoulder at us before disappearing inside the pantry.

Although the Master scoffed curtly when the lady was out of sight, the playful hint in his smirk and the twinkle in his eyes spoke volumes of the true nature of his and his staff's interaction with one another; it'd been nothing but decency and playful banter thus far. "That woman has not one ounce of couth," he joked, "but she's a trusted member of my staff, plus she's my maidservant … which means she's your maidservant as well."

Why the hell would a vampire's pet have a maidservant?

Master laughed under his breath as if he'd heard my thought. "Look, the maidservent comes with the Master," he explained. "It's a privilege to have one as a pet, so count yourself lucky, girl." I certainly didn't agree with the latter part of his statement, but I sure wasn't gonna argue that with him any time soon – or at all, really!

The Master took his seat at the table then, with a jerk of his head, gestured for me to occupy the chair next to him.

Though I hesitated at first, I obeyed his silent command, but all the while I kept my eyes on the two women as they served everyone their plates.

Once we were all set, the ladies took their places at the table then everyone dug into their meals, much too engrossed with what sat before them to even blink twice at me.

Now as for myself? Well, pet etiquette isn't exactly my forte, obviously, plus I was nervous as hell! All I could do was inconspicuously glance around the table and watch the people around me eat their food and exchange small talk.

Taking notice of my hesitance, Master placed a hand on my knee and leaned closer to me. "Did you forget how to eat?" he whispered, his use of sarcasm irking me a hair.

Side-eyeing him for the tiniest moment, I picked up my fork and began to eat like a proper lady should, fighting internally to keep my attention on what was in front of me and not the smirking, amused face of the man sitting beside me.

After our absolutely mind-blowing dinner and an even more delectable dessert, the Master and I said our goodnights to everyone then headed back up to his room. The moon's rising for the night made me tired in more ways than just one, not to mention the day's activities had worn me out both mentally and emotionally. Long story short, I was more than ready to crash!

After he locked us inside the bedroom, he instructed me to stay put while he disappeared in the closet, then he reappeared a moment later carrying a flat sheet, two thick blanket, and two pillows. "Make your bed," he commanded as he handed the bedding over to me.

"You mean I don't have to sleep in a cage or shackled at the ankles?" I asked him lightheartedly, but my question came out catty despite the fact that I truly was not intending for it to

"Should you?" he replied, c*cking his head to the side with a smirk tugging at his lips.

Shaking my head 'no' in response, I unraveled the sheet and spread it evenly across the couch, tossing the blanket and pillows to one side before plopping down to get comfortable. As I was popping my buds into my ears, I glanced toward the chair that was tucked in the corner, surprised to find Master lazily stretched out in it.

Our gazes met as I removed the buds. "Man, that lady downstairs can cook!" I praised in desperate attempt to jumpstart a conversation.

He flashed me a smile in return – I mean an actual, bonafide, stunning smile! "Hen's a great cook. Always has been, actually," he replied. "But enough about her. It's time to talk about you – more specifically, the few things that I'll be expecting of you around here…"

Well, what other types of obligations do humans have to their vampire Masters? You know … besides the obvious…

With eyes wide and lips sealed, I sat straight up, bubbling with anticipation of whatever verbal instructions awaited me.

"Most mornings, I won't be here," he began to explain, "because if I'm not stuck doing something for somebody else or on a business call of some sort, then I'm attending some sort of a meeting with someone, somewhere, for some reason or another. I'm a busy man, you know, so you'll have to manage without me until I come home. Surely you can do that." He paused for a moment to look directly at me then sprang from the chair in an absolute flash. Before I could blink, he was in front of me, squatting to where we were face to face and placing his hands on my knees. "You know, pet" he damn-near growled, "a little bit of acknowledgement goes a long way with me."

"Y-y-yes, Master," I stammered, momentarily stunned by the devilish smirk he was sporting.

"Good girl," he rasped as he caressed my cheek, then he returned to the chair and got comfortable again, crossing his leg at the knee. "Hen's not responsible for breakfast, so you'll be on your own for that, too," he continued. "If there are any foods in particular foods you'd like to be kept on-hand, you can make a list for her. She buys the groceries around here, and she'll make it a point to have your preferences in stock. Got it?"

Noted.

"Each morning after you have your breakfast, you're to return here to begin your daily chores. There aren't many, just basic things like making the beds, picking up the trash, and making sure the room and bathroom are tidy. Now as far as washing clothes and deep-cleaning goes, that's not your responsibility – it's Tilly's. And while you may not be directly responsible for washing my stuff, I do expect you to gather it and get it to the laundry room every morning."

Again, noted.

"Any questions for me?" he asked, running his tongue over a fang as his eyes wandered my body.

Should I ask him now, or…?

"Aren't you, like … gonna hold me down and steal my life force from me every now and again or something?" I asked point-blank, slapping my hand over my mouth as soon as the question tumbled out of it.

He barked out a laugh in response. "Do you want me to do you that way, pet?" he replied, his eyes settling on my t.its for a split second before snapping upward. "It sure can be arranged, if so."

Muttering not a word in response, I shook my head 'no' then dropped my hand to my lap. "I have another question," I mentioned, to which he raised an intrigued brow in response. "Why do you eat food when blood is your source of nourishment?"

"Think of it this way, if you can," he instructed without missing a beat. "You humans nourish yourselves with food, but don't you like to have an occasional treat that does absolutely nothing good for your bodies other than please your taste buds? It's much the same for us. Sure, I can thrive on the red stuff alone, but I like variety. I like the way certain foods taste. Do I need them? Nope! I just like to indulge here and there."

That makes a total of ZERO sense to me, but whatever! Do your thing, guy…

"I've one more for now…," I announced, which the Master simply c*cked a brow to in return. "May I have a piece of paper and a pen, please?"

Slowly at first, his lips twisted into a pleased, almost naughty smile. "So polite, you are," he somewhat growled. "I like it."

My body instantly responded to his word, f.orcing me to avert my gaze in a futile attempt to conceal the rapidly-spreading heat across my cheeks.

He barked out a laugh in response. "You humans are so entertaining to me," he remarked, then he excused himself to the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later drying his hands on a paper towel.

As he squared himself away in his bed, I hurried into the bathroom and shut the door behind myself. A while later, I emerged to find that all of the lights in the room had been turned off except for the tiny lamp that sat atop Master's desk. My search for a pen and paper was brief considering he'd placed both at the center of the desk when I was in the bathroom, much to my surprise. I wrote my list in the most legible handwriting I could muster, internally hoping doing so would impress him. Why, exactly? I've no flippin' idea!

Leaving the materials where I'd found them, I trudged to my make-shift bed then positioned the pillows to my satisfaction and popped my buds into my ears, laying down and covering up seconds later. @BeingScared had dropped a new video during dinner, and I was more than ready to drift off to sleep listening to whatever scary stories he was going to tell me.

As an hour slowly passed, the events of the day played over in my mind with no end in sight despite the yammering of the YouTuber streaming through my buds.

Damn that Ms. Hannigan! I mean, there wasn't much she could've done as far as the vampire claiming me as his own, but I wanna know what this offer was that she supposedly 'couldn't refuse'. Was it a threat? And that vampire – what the hell's wrong with him? Why wouldn't he spill the beans to me? And what was up with all that 'you're not ready to know that information yet' bullshit? What kind of backwards mess even is that?

The longer I thought, the more determined I grew to get to the bottom of it – and I would eventually, one way or another! Maybe I would teach my new vampire Master that humans aren't 'One Size Fits All' in the process, too. Who knows? I sure didn't, just like I didn't know much at all about vampires; what I knew for certain, though, was it was gonna be a long, restless night.