The Vampires Pet

Chapter 36.

I stared at the oozing wound on my shoulder through the mirror, wincing as I dabbed it with a cold towel. My shoulder still felt hot to the touch, the golf ball sized wound sending aches down to my fingers. At first I thought the wound wouldn't be there, that I just got injured in that bastards 'personal realm', I wasn't sure how my physical body got hurt when Nicholas said I had been sleeping there all night despite being somewhere else. 

I couldn't get back to sleep, my body riddled with angst at the loss of the answers I so desperately seeked. I had tried to fall back asleep, to try return to that witches hell but I couldn't. I knew he wouldn't bring me back, the torture I was going through was far too amusing to him. 

Nicholas kept a close eye on me, seeming to wait for the 'nightmare' to strike again. His stare became too much so I excused myself to the bathroom where the pain of my shoulder became noticeable. The burn needed to be treated but I couldn't tell Nicholas without having to explain what happened with the witch and that was something I wasn't going to risk. 

With a deep breath I put my dress back over my shoulder gently, covering the wound, and walked back into the bedroom. Nicholas was sitting at the end of his bed, his hands locked together on his lap while his eyes were closed. I stopped at stared at him, he looked so defenseless. 

"Staring is rude Fairy." He smirked, his eyes peeking open. 

My cheeks heated from being caught so I quickly looked down and walked to the couch. Nicholas sat up straighter, his smirk faltering slightly as he stared at me. 

"What?" I mumbled uncomfortably under his gaze. 

"You look in pain." 

My heartbeat rose at his words, my eyes widening ever so slightly. My shoulder was aching and it stung everytime my dress rubbed against the seared flesh.

"I am fine." I said, biting the inside of my lip. 

His eyes studied my expression for a moment longer before he stood from the bed. I gave him a quizzical look as he held his arm out to me. Slowly I reached up and placed my hand in his, fortunately the witch hit my left shoulder not my right. He effortly pulled me off the couch, making me wince slightly as the rough fabric of my dress rubbed against my shoulder from the movement. 

Though Nicholas noticed it, he didn't say anything as he pulled me to the door and downstairs. As we neared the bottom of the stairs Rosemary, Arthur and Nicholas's mother came in sight standing by the entryway. We caught all threes attention, Arthur's lips turning up in a sly smile. 

"What's this?" Nicholas asked though his tone held no real interest. 

"Arthur is leaving." Nicholas's mother said, her eyes lingering on me. 

I squirmed under her stare, suddenly becoming aware of my hand on Nicholas's arm. I dropped my hand along with my head, standing beside Nicholas as we came to a stop. 

"Oh?" 

"Unfortunately an issue has risen in my land forcing me to return." Arthur said, his eyes narrowing on Nicholas's accusingly. 

Nicholas shrugged with a smug grin. "Yes, how unfortunate." 

I stared at Nicholas with furrowed brows. 

"It is a shame we didn't get to spend much time together old friend." Arthur said. "And Faye, I only wished we could've become more acquainted." His eyes raked over my body, causing the hairs to rise on the back of my neck. 

Nicholas took half a step forward, a quiet but threatening growl slipping through his lips. His reaction broadened Arthurs haughty smirk, their eyes locking in a silent but deadly battle. As Arthur went to turn away I could tell what he was saying to Nicholas through his eyes, Arthur wasn't finished playing games yet. 

"Do be safe on your travels." Nicholas's mother smiled softly at Arthur. 

"I will Lady Camille. Oh and Nicholas before I forget, I will be leaving Rose in your care." Arthur glanced back at us, his smile turning into a sly smirk. 

Nicholas didn't speak, he simply narrowed his eyes on Arthur before glancing at Rosemary who offered him a small weak smile. Arthur turned back around and said goodbye to Rosemary so I turned to Nicholas. 

"Did you do something?" I asked. 

Nicholas glanced down at me, a smirk forming on his face. "Why ever would you think that?" He asked, feigning innocence. 

"You did. How?" I asked, my eyes gleaming with amusement. 

"I have many great skills Fairy, all you will learn in due time." His grin deepend as he stared into my eyes. 

I shook my head at him, then a lightbulb went of in my head. 

"The deal with Cason?" 

"You're too smart for you own good sometimes." 

"So I am right?" 

"Don't let it get to your head Fairy." His fangs peaked out from his lips as his hand reached up and ruffled my hair. 

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the door, my eyes instantly catching Rosemary's golden ones as she stared at us. The amusement in my eyes vanished and was replaced by a stone wall. Something flashed through her eyes as she glanced up at Nicholas who was still grinning like a child, greatly impressed with himself. Her lips turned up as she breathed out a huff of air, her head shaking, it wasn't a smile it more seemed like an expression of defeat. 

She looked away and hugged her brother goodbye, stepping outside with him. Nicholas's mother turned to us, her eyebrow raised at her son. 

"You two really couldn't play nice for the sake of this family?" 

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Oh please mother. Arthur and I will never get along, a foolish marriage will not help." 

"It is a marriage that will benefit you both." She said, crossing her arms over her chest. "You need to marry and take up your title as the Lord, Rosemary is the most suited partner for you." 

"You're beginning to sound like father." Nicholas grunted. "I believe I have expressed enough how I am in no rush to take over the Lord title, Cason is doing a perfectly fine job." 

"Nicholas just think about it." 

"I have." He said in a clipped tone. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do." 

His mother pursed her lips, her eyes looking stubborn but defeated. They flicked to mine for a second before I was pulled off with Nicholas, I could feel her eyes lingering on me. I glanced up at Nicholas, his features etched in a light scowl. 

"Why don't you?" I suddenly asked, surprising even myself. 

 Nicholas glanced down at me, his left brow raised. "What?" 

"Why don't you marry Rosemary? She seems like she'd be a good Lady." 

He studied me for a minute before speaking. "I have no doubt she'd be a good Lady but she is not the right one. Not for me." 

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" 

"They say we can love who we trust." He spoke calmly, the scowl that was once sewn into his features gone. "But what is love without lust?" His eyes were fiery, a look of certainty in them. I felt something in his eyes, a pull of such that sent shivers through my body. 

"You could fall in love with her." I mumbled, my fingers fumbling together nervously. 

"Feelings without emotions Fairy." He shook his head. "I can assure you that I will not fall in love with her, nor anyone else." 

I stared into his eyes, it had always been a struggle not to be caught in the bewitching evil he had captured in his eyes, even more so now. 

"Then you'll be lonely forever Master Nicholas." 

My words made a smug smile form on his lips. "I have you." There was a certain sincerity in his voice hidden behind the humour. "I have gotten bored of my name, it is used too often by those I dislike. Call me something else." 

"What?" 

He shrugged. "Think of something." 

Clara called him Nic, his mother did sometimes too but when she was being stern she'd call him Nicholas. I wasn't sure what to call him, I usually just called him Master. 

"Nico." I whispered to myself, forgetting the vampire with enhanced hearing beside me. 

He glanced down at me. "What was that?" He asked with a smirk. 

"Nico." I mumbled slightly louder. "Master Nico." I quickly corrected myself. 

He slowly nodded his head, the smirk not faltering for a second. I furrowed my brows as I realised where Nicholas had led us. I glanced around the kitchen, the maids all bowed their heads dismissively and physically shrunk back in fear. 

"Why are we here Master Nico?" I murmured. 

"Breakfast." He answered simply, smirking. 

He clapped his hands and one of the maids grabbed two plates and slipped through a door, Nicholas followed behind her. I quickly caught up, walking into a small dining room. The maid placed the plates on either side of the table before bowing her head at Nicholas. As she walked past me her eyes hardened, her expression turned into a scowl and the hate lingering in her eyes sent shivers through my body. 

I brushed it off, it wasn't particularly unusual to get dirty looks from the other maids. Instead I turned my attention to Nicholas who was sitting down at one end of the table, he motioned to the other chair so I hesitantly moved and sat down. 

"What is this?" I questioned slowly. 

"Breakfast." 

"You've said that and I can see that." I said. "But.." I raised my eyebrows as I stared down at the plate. 

It had a few pancakes and scrambled eggs, very different from my usual breakfast of porridge or a sandwich. 

"Even I can reward my pet." 

I looked back up at him. "Reward?"

He rolled his eyes with a smirk. "You did well last night. Your help wasn't going to go unrewarded." He grumbled. "So eat. Quickly." 

I slowly nodded my head, mouthing a thank you to him. He smirked and began eating. I stared at the food before hesitantly picking up my knife and fork and cutting a small piece of pancake off. I felt nervous as I ate, like I was doing something I shouldn't be doing. We ate in silence, both stealing a few glances at each other like cheeky children. 

Once we were finished the same maid came back and collected the plates, giving me a nasty glare on her way out. I pursed my lips and rubbed my temple as an ache began in my head. I could see Nicholas watching me so I stopped and stared at him. 

"You're very pale." He said, his eyes narrowed on my face. 

"I'm fine." I mumbled. 

"I didn't ask if you were. I just said you're pale." He stood from his chair, walking towards me until he was standing beside me. "What's going on?" 

I gulped and pushed the chair back so I could stand. "Nothing." 

He reached forward, grabbing my wounded shoulder. I gasped out in pain, ripping his hand away from me and stumbling backwards. I winced as I held my arm against my chest, Nicholas's eyebrows were knitted together as he watched my reaction.  

"Faye?" He took a step forward and reached for me again. 

I flinched back instinctively, my wide eyes locked with his as I breathed heavily. His eyes narrowed on mine, making me gulp as fear shot through me. He stepped forward again, my back hitting the wall, this time when he reached for my arm I couldn't move out of the way. I held back a gasp when he ripped the short sleeve off my dress, exposing the wound on my shoulder. The cold air hitting the burn made it sting, causing my eyes to shut tightly as I winced. 

"What the hell is this?" He asked, a hint of a growl in his voice. 

"Nothing." I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to ignore the pain coursing through my body. 

"Faye." He snarled. "Where did you get this?" 

His eyes held mine firmly locked with his, I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. They were compelling, searching for the answers he wanted. I bit my tongue in an attempt to keep my mouth shut but it didn't work. The pressure of his stare became too much and I caved. 

"Last night." I said, my voice shaking. "It wasn't a nightmare." 

"Then what was it?" He snapped impatiently. 

"I was in the witches personal realm. He was angry that I helped him be captured." I breathed out. 

"He did this?" He looked at my shoulder, I nodded slowly. "I'll kill him." He growled under his breath. 

"I'm sorry for lying to you." I murmured.  

"How did he take you there? Your body was on the couch all night." 

"Remember when he grabbed my wrist yesterday and called me a traitor?" He nodded his head. "He placed a link on me that allowed him to take me to his space, he can go there whenever he likes and can take whoever he likes." 

Nicholas stepped away from me, finally allowing me to breath without the suffocation of his anger. He ran his hand through his hair, breathing out unsteadily. I could see he was trying to calm himself down, I wasn't sure it was working. 

"What else happened?" 

I could feel my heart rate rise at his question, no doubt he heard it. I took a deep breath, I could tell him some things, just not everything. 

"He..." My mind was conflicted on what to tell him, anything I tell Nicholas could give him more suspicions. The witch knew my real name, for whatever reason he knows who I am. Nicholas may think that means I have a connection to the witches. "He mentioned a prophecy about a being who is equally connected to life and death." 

His eyebrows furrowed. "What else?" 

"He wouldn't tell me anything more about it. Then you started pulling me back, I didn't get the chance to find out anything else." 

He paced the length of the room, his hardened eyes narrowed at the ground. 

"Life and death?" 

"Do you know anything about it?" I asked cautiously, gauging his reaction. 

"I recall a witch mentioning something similar once. How this 'being' would be the downfall of us all." He stopped in his tracks, his eyes locking with mine. 

I sucked in a breath, my body erupting with shivers. I wrapped my arms around myself as I bit down on my lip. Nicholas walked towards me until he stood a few feet away, his eyes glued on the burn wound. 

"Go back to my room." He said. "That needs to be treated." 

I nodded my head numbly before walking off, Nicholas stood in his place watching me until I left the room. I released an unsteady breath, shaking my body as if it would get rid of the feeling gripping onto me. I hung my head as I walked, my legs were numb and wobbly as they carried me. 

Pain shot through my body, the back of my head aching harshly. My eyes began to go blurry as I stumbled forward. I whined in pain, my body slamming down to the floor as my legs gave out. I rolled on my side, voices were fading in and out. Despite my eyes incapability to focus, I could see two figures standing above me but then it all went black.