The Vampires Pet

Chapter 44

~ Song ~ Waves Of Grey - Ruelle ~

"Am I dying?" 

I searched his stony eyes in an attempt to find even the smallest amount of truth in them. However he was too skilled at hiding his emotions and I couldn't get even a glimpse. Nicholas stood up, his eyes leaving mine as he turned around. 

"You need rest." 

"You didn't answer my question." I pressed further. "Am I dying?" 

He shook his head, running his hand through his messy red hair. "No." He finally said, turning to face me. "Apparently you won't, you have an important role in everyone's future." He grumbled quietly. 

If I wasn't leaning forward, completely attentive on him then I doubt I would've heard it. My eyes widened, my mind remembering what my mother said in the dream. Surely it was just a coincidence but something about it made a tingly feeling rush through me. Nicholas stepped forward, noticing my reaction. 

"What did you just say?" 

"I said no." 

"After that." 

His eyes narrowed as he stepped forward another step. "You have an important role in everyone's future." 

"Why?" I asked, my heart beat beginning to rise. 

"Kane said it. The witch who burned you." He said. "Why?" 

I stared into his eyes, deciding if I wanted to tell him or not. It probably didn't mean anything but I couldn't shake the feeling that had consumed me. 

"I had a dream about my mother. I was a kid and she told me I was special, that I had an important role in the future so I had to live." I said slowly, squirming at how stupid I sounded. 

His narrowed eyes remained on mine despite my attempts to avoid his gaze. He remained quiet for a few long minutes, letting the information settle between us. It had been a long and exasperating week for the both of us and it seemed it was yet to stop. 

"Well then I better make sure no one else takes you again." He said, his jaw tensed. "Especially if Charles' comrades want to finish the job." 

"Isn't it illegal for you vampires to steal others pets?" I asked warily as the thought came to mind. 

They never cared about the pet being kidnapped or killed, it was more the fact that someone acted against them. Vampires were walking egos, they thought they were untouchable. Stealing one's pet or slave was a way to show blatant disrespect. 

"Yes if they are branded." He said. "You never went to the slave establishment so you have no brand, therefore it technically isn't."

I pursed my lips. I was glad I wasn't branded. I may be a pet but if I escaped I could live a normal life, well normal enough. I wouldn't have a brand sentencing me to be a pet my whole life. Nicholas's eyes suddenly flashed with a certain brightness. An alarm went of in my mind at his change, terror rippling through my body. 

"I guess." He said. "I'll just have to brand you myself." 

My eyes widened, my breath getting caught in my throat. I wanted to scream as he approached slowly but nothing came out. I couldn't be branded, it would assure that I'd never be free. I'd be stuck as a pet or a slave until I died. 

"No." I pushed myself back. "Please Master Nico. Don't." My words were barely above a whisper. 

Nicholas didn't fail to notice my distress, something flashed through his eyes as a result. He reached forward ignoring my reaction when I flinched and cupped my cheek, pulling my face forward. 

"It must be done or I risk you being taken from me again."  

My lip quivered as the panic broke loose inside of me. I pushed him away, attempted at least, he barely budged. I began thrashing around, ignoring the pain the movements sent through me as I tried desperately to escape. His hands caught my wrists in a firm grasp, rendering my arms practically useless. 

"No!" I cried out. 

"Stop fighting me Fairy or it will hurt." 

I watched as his fangs grew, his fingers brushing the hair off my shoulder. I continued to try escape him but it was futile. My breathing was ragged, my heart was painfully pounding against my chest. Nicholas had me pushed up against the headboard, my body trapped by his. His eyes lingered on mine, something unknown yet sincere flashing through them but as soon as I saw it, it was gone. 

My head was clouded, a heavy headache beginning and making my eyes feel tired. I was barely conscious, unable to understand what was happening when I felt a small sting on my neck. His grip around me tightened, pulling our bodies flush together as my eyes rolled back into the darkness. 

~~

A dull ache pounded in my neck, as if my heart had been moved from my chest to sit where my neck and shoulder met. I slowly forced my weighted eyes open, taking in my surroundings. 

"How do you feel?" I jumped slightly at the voice beside me, turning to see Nicholas. 

He was sitting on the bed beside me, leaning on the pillows against the headboard with a book in his hands. His eyes finished scanning the page, turning to me and capturing my own. He studied me for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing slightly before drifting down to my neck. 

"Have you forgotten how to speak?" He inquired, raising a brow at me. 

"No." 

"Good." He said placing the book on the bedside table. "I was starting to think you wouldn't wake." 

"How long was I out?" I questioned hesitantly, my voice sounding rough and scratchy. 

"Two days." He answered, making my eyes widen. "I guess my mark was a bit too much for your body to handle." 

I furrowed my eyebrows, reaching up and placing my hand over my neck where it was aching. My fingers ran over the slightly raised skin, only adding to my confusion. 

"What is this Master?" 

"It is my mark." His eyes narrowed on my confused ones. "What, you seriously didn't think I'd brand you like the slave establishment? I am not that cruel Fairy." He shook his head. 

"You didn't?" 

He reached forward making me instinctively flinch back, despite that he continued forward. His fingers gently traced over the mark causing shivers to erupt through my body. I squirmed under his touch, goosebumps rising on my arms. Nicholas grinned at my reaction, seemingly satisfied with it. 

"Vampires are able to leave different types of marks on others. When we feed, it leaves nothing but a small scar at most but we can choose what type of mark to leave on someone. However it is an old practice that not many know or use anymore." 

"So you marked me?" I asked, my mind a muddled mess. "As opposed to a hot brand?" 

"My mark is a brand in itself. It is a branding mark, showing others that you belong to me." His eyes flicked to the mark. "Any creature with heightened smell can tell you're mine from the scent in my mark." 

I took a moment to take in the information. My head was still feeling hazy, I had been barely conscious the past few days, I was disoriented. Nicholas's eyes remained on my mark, admiring his handy work. I furrowed my eyebrows, a mark may not be as bad as a hot brand but I was now tied to Nicholas for as long as this mark remained on my neck. I was trapped, truly this time. 

"How many types of marks are there?" I questioned, bringing his eyes back to mine. 

He smirked slightly. "A few. The main ones are the branding mark, temporary mark, protection mark. There are many more though, most are far more complex and unknown this day and age, like the soulmate mark." 

"Soulmate mark?" I questioned, staring into his eyes. "What does that do?" 

He chuckled at my curiousness. "A soulmate mark can only be used on two that have pure love between them. If the mark is placed but either one of them do not have genuine love, the mark will kill both vampires." He said. "It is a very ancient mark that hasn't been used in years because of the risk it holds. It links the two vampires together for life and allows them to find each other in their next lives." 

"So even if they believed they were in love?" 

"Two could be in love but it not be true love. The mark would still kill both." 

"That seems tragically romantic." I murmured. 

Nicholas chuckled. "I suppose it is." He said as he caught my gaze. "True love is hard to find. Love, it is a fleeting emotion just like anger and happiness, you can love someone, anything really. However true love is a mystery, a myth, a wish of each one of us but fate of very few."

I was mesmerized by the spark in his eyes as he spoke, something simmering in the back of his mind. I delved into his eyes in an attempt to catch even the smallest glimpse of what he was hiding behind those crimson pools. Just as I thought I would, Nicholas hid it all away suddenly aware it was slipping past his mask. 

"You should go back to sleep." He said, standing from the bed. "We have to leave tomorrow." 

"Leave?" I questioned, glancing out the windows to see the sun setting. Then I remembered we were suppose to go to one of Nicholas's contacts for answers. "Already?"

He nodded his head. "You were asleep for two days after I removed the shard, then another two from my mark. Not to mention you were gone for three days. That all adds up Fairy." 

"Oh." I pursed my lips, no wonder I was so disoriented. 

"Rest now Fairy." 

He walked into the bathroom. I sat on the bed, the covering pooling around my waist. My eyes flicked to the couch, I was better now so I should be sleeping on the couch. I chewed my bottom lip as I removed the blankets and hung my legs over the side of the bed. 

Just as my feet touched the ground Nicholas walked back out, his eyebrows raised as he stared at me. 

"Didn't I say rest?" 

"I am just moving back to the couch." I murmured. 

"Who said you could do that?" He asked with narrowed eyes. 

"Well.. it's just where I've always slept Master." 

He shook his head. "You're staying on the bed." 

I pursed my lips as I stared into his eyes. "But where will you sleep Master?" 

"Where I have been sleeping the past days." A small smirk appeared. "It is my bed after all." 

My eyes widened, he had been sleeping next to me all that time? 

"We cannot share a bed." I said in an exasperated tone. 

"I have bathed you Fairy." He said taking a step forward, making me gulp. "Sharing a bed is hardly an offence." 

My heart thundered in my chest. "I will sleep on the couch." 

I moved to walk past him but he caught my arm, causing my body to come to an abrupt stop. I turned and stared up at him as he shook his head. I gasped when his hands went to my waist, effortlessly picking me up and placing me back on the bed. 

"You are to sleep on my bed from now on." He said, his tone unyielding. 

I furrowed my eyebrows. "But-" 

"No buts Fairy." He removed his hands from my waist but didn't step backwards. "Now sleep. I will be back soon and if I find you anywhere but my bed, you will be punished." 

His lips curled up in a devilish smirk, his fangs showing. I gulped at the spark in his eyes and slowly nodded my head, waiting for him to move away. When he finally did I hesitantly climbed back under the covers, his hawk eyes on me until he was satisfied then he left. 

I sighed and closed my eyes attempting to fall back into a slumber but it was harder than I had anticipated. My body felt restless, I was not use to sleeping for days on end. I tossed and turned until the sun had well and truly disappeared, allowing the darkness to consume the world. The room was dark save for the smoldering coals in the fireplace. I flinched when the door opened, my eyes meeting his bright red ones as they stood out in the dark. 

"Why aren't you asleep?" He asked, placing another log on the fire, making the flames rise up. 

"I can't sleep." I mumbled. 

I watched as he walked into the bathroom and splashed water onto his face, running his hand through his tousled hair. He stared into the mirror for a few silent seconds before turning towards me. I averted my gaze to the fire, hearing him huff out a chuckle at my reaction. He got changed in the closet and walked around the bed, making my heart thunder as he climbed under the blankets. 

I brought the blankets up to my chin and scooted as far away from him as possible, almost falling off the bed. I kept my back to him as silence consumed us, the quiet crackling of the fire and our breathing the only noise in the room.

"Sing for me." He suddenly said, causing my eyebrows to furrow. I stayed silent hoping he'd think I fell asleep. "I know you're awake Fairy, I can hear your heart." 

I frowned and slowly turned over to stare at him. "You want me to sing for you?" I questioned softly. 

He positioned himself so he was resting his head on his propped up arm. "Yes." 

I pursed my lips, looking past him at the books lining the shelf. "I cannot sing." 

"I have heard you sing before Fairy. Don't lie." 

My eyes returned to him. "What? When?" 

He smirked. "That's a secret. Now sing me a song." 

I sighed and sat up slightly, my fingers thumbling together as I thought of a song to sing. The lullaby mother sang to me at night came to mind, making me close my eyes as I remembered her serene voice as she sung. 

"Close your eyes and sleep, ignore all the burdens that you keep." I sang softly, keeping my eyes closed. "Come whatever may, they could never harm you anyway. Stirrings in the wind, resonates a whisper from within. Warnings from afar, telling you to heed the morning star." I could feel his intense eyes on me so I slowly opened my eyes, locking with his. "Close your eyes and sleep, ignore all the pain that you can see. Listen to your heart, each day is a brand new start. Dream of what you wish, a world full of love and only bliss. A brave new world will rise, if we don't act upon its lies, hold your tongues no more, learn from all the ones who came before." I saw something flicker through his eyes, something that drew me in. "Close your eyes and sleep, mend all the sadness that you keep."

I finished singing, choosing to only sing that portion of the song like my mother would with me. His face had become impassive while he had listened to me, taking in the words for everything that they meant. His lips curled up a small amount. 

"Where did you learn that song?" 

"My mother." I said, lying back down and staring at the roof. "She use to sing it to me most nights."

I was beginning to understand the meaning behind those simple words.