The Vampires Pet

Chapter 21

My mind was still swirling with confusion and disbelief as Nicholas and I trudged up to his room, soaked to the core. My hands, along with Nicholas's, were covered in mud and leaves but he didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. 

As we entered his room, warmth hit me like a freight train. I stared at the already lit fire, wondering who lit it while Nicholas and I were outside. Nicholas threw me one of my dresses and motioned towards the bathroom, reluctant to leave the warmth of the fire, I dragged my numb body into the bathroom and got changed. 

When I entered his bedroom, I noticed he was already changed and sitting on the ground by the fire. I knew he wasn't that cold, at least not as cold as me. He had told me before that the cold really didn't affect him much, but it was somewhat amusing to see him sitting by the fire like it did. 

"Come. Sit." He said, his eyes trained on the fire. 

I did as I was told, sitting down in front of the fire. I tried to keep distance between Nicholas and I but with the small space around the fire, that proved difficult. My body still shivered and goosebumps still lay on my arms. 

I glanced to the side to see Nicholas's eyes closed. The warm light of the fire decorated his face, creating shadows that accentuated his features. He was vexingly handsome. I couldn't help but think I was fortunate to have a master that wasn't an eyesore. He was temperamental and sinful but I couldn't lie and say he was the worst master, after all I had witnessed a real nasty master today. 

Regardless of how Nicholas treated me, the fact was still present that this was cruel. Vampires were controlling monsters, they kidnapped humans and forced them to be their personal toy. It was sickening watching how vampires stared at me and others, the way a cat stares at a mouse. We were prey, they were the predator and they made it their life mission to constantly remind us of that. 

"Have you ever had any suitors?" Nicholas's voice cut through the silence. 

My eyes that were trained on the dancing flames, slowly found his now open ones. He kept his stare on the flames as if they were speaking to him. I furrowed my brow at his question. 

"A few." 

"But you didn't marry." Coming from Nicholas, it was less of a question and more of a statement. He was not asking me, he was telling me to tell him. 

"They were superficial." I mumbled. "It was unattractive." 

"Indeed?" 

I shuffled uncomfortably. "The villagers thought I was strange, an anomaly. Those men thought if they courted me they might find out what was wrong with me, why I was different." I sighed. 

I wasn't really affected by it all, I didn't want to marry and still don't but the fact that these men had banded together to try figure out why I was different by their standards, it made my blood boil. They called me a witch, a spawn of satan just because I looked different but I never thought I was that different. Humans in these times were very judgmental, if they thought you might have any tie to the supernaturals, you were outcasted. 

"I see." I felt his gaze on me so I turned to meet it. 

"I don't need a man anyway. I can manage on my own." I mumbled quietly, the warmth of the flames slowly lulling me to sleep. 

"You cannot love yourself the way a man can love you." He said, studying my reaction. 

"Love is hard to find Master." 

"But if you found love?" 

"I doubt I will." I furrowed my brows slightly. "Not that I'd have the chance to now." Resentment slipped from my tone as I turned away and focused on the flames. 

I wasn't sure if I could ever return to the village again, they would've learnt I was taken by a vampire, by Lord Nicholas. They wouldn't want me back there, being taken would've just fueled their suspicions and idiotic thoughts. 

"Don't speak so soon Fairy." I could hear arrogant amusement in his voice, like he was accepting a challenge he knew he'd win. 

"What about you Master? You don't appear to be married." 

"Women are weak, they whine and constantly seek attention. Someone like that would get in my way." 

"Only the women you're surrounded by are like that." I said. "Expect Clara." I quickly added. 

He chuckled so I glanced at him, our eyes locking. "I know all women aren't like that." He smirked. "You seem to like Clara." 

I nodded numbly. "She's nice." 

"She's a vampire." 

"A nice one." 

"Not all vampires are bad." 

"I think the statistics on that aren't in your favour." I muttered. 

Sure Clara was nice but that was one in a hundred. Vampires were born with the venom to kill, the arrogant supremacy that they all carried. It was in their blood to believe they were greater no matter the circumstance. Nicholas was no exception, he was born royal so he was greater than the rest of his race, it only fueled the evil power that coursed through his veins.    

Nicholas let us fall into silence once again. The only noise was the crackling of the fire and the rain outside. The warmth soon swept me into a comfortable sleep, even with a predator at my side. Throughout the night I felt my body being moved, whether that was by myself or someone else I didn't know, but I knew the gentle arms around me as I was placed on the couch were definitely not my own.

When I woke up, I noticed the fire was still smoldering, keeping the room warm. I glanced around, my eyes searching for the red haired devil but they never found him. I walked into the bathroom and cleaning myself up, pinning my hair up in a bun. There was a sudden slam in the bedroom, I flinched and froze. There was one more slam before it became quiet, I slowly moved to the door and peered out. 

Nicholas was at his desk, guzzling back his whiskey. His eyes were glowing with anger, I could just make out the dry blood on his healed knuckles that were white from how hard he was clenching them. His eyebrows were knitted together tightly, etching hatred on his features. 

His head snapped to the side, his eyes penetrating mine. I wanted to yelp but was silenced by his stare. 

"Spying is rude Fairy." He spoke with a clipped tone. 

"Sor-" 

He cut me off quickly, slamming the glass on the desk, shattering it in pieces. "If I hear that word leave your mouth I might just cut your tongue out." He snapped, his voice booming through the room and shaking my body. 

I winced at the glass shattering and titled my head to the side, shutting my eyes tightly. Only when my ears were met with silence did I peek my eyes open. Nicholas was bracing himself on the desk, his eyes shut tightly and his breathing ragged. He was trying to hold back the storm in his mind but I wasn't sure it was working. 

I stayed behind the bathroom door, watching Nicholas silently. I didn't want to disturb him again, afraid he would lash out at me. When his breathing had become more calm, his eyes opened and quickly found mine. They weren't as bright anymore, not as dangerous but his jaw was still clenched tightly. 

"Let's go." He said, striding towards the door. 

I dropped my eyes and obeyed, following him like a lost puppy. It was degrading but there was nothing I could do about it. We left the house and climbed into the carriage, the coachman wasted no time when he saw Nicholas's face. The carriage ride was spent in a tense silence, I made no move to utter a single syllable and barely breathed at that, I didn't want Nicholas to have a single excuse to loose his temper at me. His body remained rigid and still, his jaw clenching and unclenching as thoughts filled his mind. 

I wondered what had caused his horrible mood today, he was out when I woke up, but that was usual. I knew his father had been trying to talk to him for a while now, I wonder if they had a fight this morning. Though the curiosity was building up in my mind, I decided it was in best interest for my life if I kept my mouth shut for once. 

The carriage rolled to a stop, I glanced outside to see we were in a village I had never seen before. I hadn't been paying attention to the road so I had no idea where we were. Nicholas moved his arm towards me, I flinched back and closed my eyes. I heard him sigh and felt something placed in my lap. 

"Stay here and eat that." I slowly opened my eyes to see two pieces of bread in my lap. 

Nicholas climbed out of the carriage and started walking into the village, I noticed how the villagers quickly dispersed and hurried into their houses, eyes peeked through the windows at the royal vampire strutting down the road. I turned away and slowly ate the bread, I could probably run pretty easily, if it wasn't for the fact that I had no idea where we were and Nicholas no doubt would find me. Even if I did manage to escape I had no idea where to go, Nicholas knew where I lived so going back there wasn't really an option. 

Maybe leaving Affaraon would be my best option, but the other lands weren't exactly welcoming either. I doubt I would survive for very long. I was paying no attention to outside, all the villagers were in hiding so there was no movement, so when I saw something in the corner of my eye, I turned an spotted a boy. 

He was staring at the carriage with a conflicted expression, his clothes were ripped and dirty. It was clear he was homeless. His blonde hair was past his ears and tangled together with dirt, his blue eyes were dull and hopeless. He looked only a year younger than me. I glanced down at the two pieces of bread on my lap and sighed. I climbed out of the carriage quietly so the coachman didn't notice me. I walked around the back, when the boy saw me anger flashed through his eyes. At first glance he thought I was one of them no doubt. 

"Its okay." I said softly. "I'm a slave." 

His eyes softened but he remained guarded. 

"Won't you get in trouble for being out here?" He asked, studying me. 

I shrugged slightly. "Probably but my Master is busy at the moment." He physically cringed at the word Master, much like I use to. 

"Why are you even out here?" 

"You look hungry." I said softly, I stretched my arm out carefully, handing him the piece of bread I hadn't touched yet. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "It's not poisoned I promise."  

After studying it for another minute, he reached out and warily took the bread. "Why are you helping me?" He asked as he took a small bite of the bread. 

"Do you have family?" I asked softly. 

I noticed the way his body tensed at my question. "No. Not anymore." 

"Neither." I said sadly. "My parents died when I was seven and my grandmother passed away earlier this year. I was alone for a few months before a Watcher captured me and sold me to my master." 

"Your parents.." He mumbled softly. "How did they die?" 

I stared into his eyes, searching for anything. "I'm not sure." I sighed. "I just woke up and they were both dead on the floor of my bedroom." 

"Oh." 

We talked for a while, the more we talked the more I liked the boy. He reminded me of me in some ways, he was so lost and I knew anger was the thing that was keeping him going. He didn't speak about his parents or family, but I knew something had happened that filled him with hatred. I learnt his name was Karter. 

"Why don't you just escape?" He asked, glancing around at the quiet village. 

"I've tried." I admitted. "He left me for a week before he came and got me, he knew where I lived and I had no idea." 

"We could just run now." 

I shook my head. "He would find us, and kill us." 

"We won't know unless we try." 

"We wouldn't have anywhere to go Karter." I pointed out. 

"I know these people, in the northern side of Affaraon. They can help, they know how to kill vampires Faye." His eyes held a sort of frenzy that made the hairs on my neck stand up. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Hunters, Faye." He grabbed my shoulders. "If we get to them, the vampires can't hurt us anymore. We will be safe." 

I searched his eyes again, something was off about him now. He seemed less like the hopeless boy I first saw, I could feel the hatred and vengeance rolling off him in waves. 

"Karter.."

"They are going to get rid of the vampire race." 

My eyes widened. I remembered back to when I first met Nicholas with the Watcher, Nicholas spoke about people working together to get at the vampires, a rebellion of sorts. Was this them? The people Nicholas had been searching for? Could they really get rid of the vampire race?

Something stirred in my body, my head snapped to the side to see Nicholas stepping out of a building. 

"He's coming. Leave Karter." I said quickly. 

Karters eyes followed mine, his light expression quickly turned to a scowl. He looked back at me before turning and walking towards he back of a house, he turned back, his heavy eyes penetrating mine. 

"My parents were killed by him. I'd remember those eyes anywhere." 

Then he disappeared behind the building, my body stilled at his words. Nicholas killed his parents. It wasn't exactly a far off idea, Nicholas killed people mercilessly, he was a monster after all. I quickly made my way back to the carriage but I wasn't quick enough. 

"Why are you outside of the carriage Fairy?" Nicholas's voice chilled me to my bones. 

I turned slowly and dropped my head. "I'm sorry Master, I just..uh.. I needed to stretch my legs." 

"Indeed?" I glanced up, his eyebrows were raised and his expression was void of emotion. 

I nodded my head anxiously. "I wasn't trying to run." 

"I know." His words surprised me slightly. "Let's go then." He turned away and started walking back towards the village. 

I furrowed my brows and caught up to him. "Where?" 

"To stretch our legs of course." He smirked but it wasn't his usual smirk, it was hollow.

I pursed my lips and nodded my head, silently walking behind him. I glanced around, spotting the peering eyes that held fear in the windows. They watched us as we walked past, if I had noticed them, I was sure Nicholas had to. Their eyes were scrutinizingly unkind when they found mine and in that moment I realised my fate. 

I was always looked at differently but now that I was chosen by Nicholas, people saw me as even more outlandish than before. They didn't pity me for being his slave, they were afraid of me for being different and chosen by a vampire like Nicholas. Their fear of the strange and unknown created hatred and disgust. I would always be seen as the one chosen by Lord Nicholas.