The Servant Trade

Chapter 2

David POV

                I haven't attended one of Bethesda's auctions in about a decade, but she always has the best, so I was eager for the auction and the reunion. I had enough servants to run a small village. Most of them were either too young or old to feed me, or I couldn't weaken their ability to fight by taking their blood, so I needed new blood. I won't buy from anyone but Bethesda. She molds her merchandise to accept and embrace who they are meant to be. Other traders control their merchandise with fear. Fear stinks, literally. It doesn't taste good in the blood either. Unfortunately, only the richest vampires can afford Bethesda's merch. So, other traders stay in business.  

                The pamphlet said there are six available tonight. I brought enough money for all of them. That doesn't mean I'll want all of them, however. I only accept the strongest, so they'll live longer and serve me better. Bethesda's practice of catering to all the needs of the children she raises to serve us in adulthood produces strong servants, generally. However, some of them can't get past the abuse they suffered before she rescued them. I need strength all around. Mental weakness kills as quickly as physical weakness. I pride myself on keeping my servants alive until they die of natural causes due to age.        

                The hall is in an old "abandoned" mansion on the outskirts of Traverse City, Michigan. In reality, the mansion is owned by the Vampire High Council, our government. Bethesda is the primary caretaker of the property because of its proximity to her school. She loves the area for the old growth forests. Bethesda always loved the wilderness. That was among the reasons she was nearly burned as a witch. Her defiance of the human authorities was what drew my attention to her over thirteen centuries ago. Bethesda was a stunning beauty, even then, when she was shackled in a human prison awaiting her punishment. She didn't weep for her plight though she was terrified. Her fear was what led me to her that night. It was my practice to rescue "witches" from the Catholics that persecuted my kind as well. Most of the church's victims weren't actually witches. Real witches knew how to avoid the persecution.        

                Bethesda greeted me at the front door of the mansion with a beaming smile. Her cheeks were flush with her most recent feeding. The torchlight reflected off her fiery hair and looked like a halo around her cherubim face. When I turned her, she was just eighteen. She served and fed me for three years before that. It was a different era, when a woman was considered an adult when she menstruated. Now, it’s illegal to feed off or turn any human younger than eighteen years of age. Turning Bethesda preserved her youthful, innocent appearance. I embraced her like a lover, I always did. I missed her terribly because I never stopped loving her. Her mouth met mine and kissed me with passion that stirred my loins. The kiss said the longing was a mutual feeling. She was one of my offspring that never had any hard feelings towards me. After thirteen centuries, that made her my favorite among her brood mates.   

                "You're still a fiery temptress, I see," I chided affectionately.        

                "You still make my undead heart pound in my chest like a hammer," she returned. "You came for a good one. There is one I know you will love, but she is worried that she is not beautiful."          

                "Only one?" I teased and tugged her hair.        

                "I'm sure you will love them all, but this one is special," Bethesda said.

                One of the benefits of being her sire was having priority as a buyer. She had the freedom to choose her clients and what she sold her servants for. She started the bids high to ensure the buyers wouldn’t outright kill their new servants. It wasn’t a foolproof tactic, but it was usually effective. I followed my sensual offspring and watched the seductive sway of her full hips. She wore the current fashion of tight, revealing clothing. It accented her luscious body in a way that made me drool. Not many women could make me drool the way she could. Drooling was undignified for one as old as I am. I'm sure that she takes a lot of pride in how she affects me too. I smacked her ass, which only made her sultry laugh echo in the nearly empty room.        

                "Business first, David," she chided.        

                "Will you deny me pleasure, Beth?" I asked.    

                "Never, but I do have a busy night planned," she said. "Acquisitions. I will be glowing by sunrise. My bed is open, if you chose to stick around."    

                "I love watching you work. Maybe, I can lend a hand in acquisitions," I offered.        

                She nodded to accept my offer. The short walk ended at the small stage in the auction room. Bethesda never chained up the servants she sold. They sat comfortably in chairs that would face the audience when the auction began, waiting for the show to begin. I greeted the one patron that was already there and wondered how he could afford anything Bethesda sold. I didn’t know the vampire well, but I could guess from his appearance that he wasn’t wealthy, like most of Bethesda’s clientele. Each servant was dressed in underwear. The four women had high-heeled shoes, while the men were barefoot. My eyes settled on a woman in a blue bra and panty set. Her suede boots encased long, shapely legs. She jumped up with the others when Bethesda reached the stage. I let my eyes travel from her feet up to her full, round hips. Then to her full breasts, slender neck, and beautiful freckled face. I had a thing for the innocent look. This woman looked innocent to me. Her face was painted, like a prostitute's. It wasn't my cup of tea, but I understood the standard. Most vampires liked that sort of thing.     

                Her big blue eyes were focused on me in a way that appealed to me. Her full lips were slightly parted, her pupils were dilated more than necessary for the lighting, and her breathing was a little erratic. It pleased me a great deal to see that she was already aroused. She licked her lips, I wasn’t entirely sure if the gesture was intentional, but it was effective in completing the job Bethesda started with her flirting. I noticed an old scar on the right side of her abdomen. If she was adopted by my offspring as a baby, that meant she had strength. She also had a divine scent that made my mouth water. I would consult the sales tag to confirm what my nose told me.

        "Which of these women believes she is ugly?" I asked Bethesda, not taking my eyes from the stunning young human.

                “Come here, Amelia,” Bethesda said. The name caused a pang in my heart. I had an idea of who the human was, but it was vague.

                The woman I was so focused on closed the distance between us quickly. She started to kneel at her mistress' feet, like a well-trained servant. Something about her told me the gesture was out of genuine respect and love, but I stopped her. I didn't care for groveling. Her sapphire eyes opened wide and locked with mine. AB+ was what her tag said. I licked my lips. She even had my favorite blood-type, it was a rare one. I pulled her wrist to my nose and could smell her blood through her skin. It was allowed at auctions to sample the products. I lengthened my teeth and maintained eye-contact. She remained focused and relaxed, though her eyes were still wide. Was she undressing me with those orbs? I wondered.    

                "May I?" I asked. It wasn't necessary, but I always asked.     

                "Yes, Sir, please," she answered, not hiding the desire in her voice.     

                I dropped her wrist and looked at my treasured offspring. She was beaming with pride. The servant looked disappointed and concerned, as she glanced around the room. It was beginning to fill, so I had to make my decision quickly. I would address Amelia’s disappointment after the transaction. I still needed to inspect the others. One of them was terrified, which was unappealing to me. Frightened servants weren't reliable protection. I didn't make it fifteen hundred years by being careless with those who served me. I also knew that if Bethesda didn't cure them of fear, nothing would. I pulled four more of the stunning young humans to stand next to the first. The last woman would go to auction. Bethesda still smiled but I knew she was disappointed with the one I didn't pick. She did care for the humans she raised. It hurt her when abusive buyers took them. They never lasted long under a tyrant.     

                "I hope you brought a full wallet," she teased.    

                "Always, my dear," I responded. "Will a three-hundred million get you through until the next auction?" My bid was a fifty percent increase from the total starting bids for the servants I chose. I was eager to learn why Bethesda asked for such a high starting bid for Amelia. It wasn’t likely because the girl was named after Bethesda’s dead brood mate, although the girl had to be special to earn the name.

                "I'm sure I can make it stretch," she teased. "Where do you want them?"        

                "Amelia will stay with us tonight, my dear," I pulled the brunette to me. "Send the others to my estate right away. Bea will know what to do."    

"I'll see that it is done right away."

        I knew I could trust her, so I left four of my new servants with her and led the fifth to my suite. The room was set aside for me specifically. If I didn’t attend an auction for ten years, it would remain unused, but Bethesda always made sure it was clean. Amelia followed me without hesitance. She seemed relieved but still disappointed. I admired her courage. Even the bravest of servants generally showed some fear when being bought by a new master. Amelia showed only her desire.

        "Are you a virgin?" I asked when the door closed.    

        "Yes, M...." I placed a finger on her lips before she could finish. 

        "David, that's what you will call me," I said firmly.     

        "Yes, David, I am a virgin," Amelia said with a subtle smile on her face. There was an unreadable glint in her eyes as well.      

        "That ends tonight," I said. "Go wash the paint off. Keep the boots on but take everything else off." She gaped at me with wide eyes. "Do I repulse you?"    

        "N-n-no. You are very handsome," she stammered as she remembered herself.     

        "Do I frighten you?"    

        "No," she said.    

        "Your tag says you can't cook. I need to find a use for you in my household," I said and pulled her hand to the erection straining to get out of my pants. Her laughter filled the room and made me repress a smile. She made no effort to hide her desire from the moment she laid her eyes on me, it was a good sign for a servant of a vampire lord. Bethesda trained shame out of her humans. Amelia's breathing quickened as she licked her lips. "Feeding is less painful, if you orgasm first. You will feed me twice a week."    

        "I will get ready, David," she said and withdrew her hand.    

        I didn't mention the old, pale scar on her midsection. It was her only "flaw". To me, it was an indicator of her strength. I would test her loyalty and push her limits. Maybe, in time she would come to love me the way most of my servants did. Even if they didn't, they remained loyal, or died. I provided them with luxury and only asked for a clean house and a good meal and s*x. If they reproduced, their children belonged to me, when they became adults. Those children became guards of my manor or scouts for acquisitions. I typically gave them the choice.

        Amelia returned in only her boots. Her face was clean of makeup. Her pert breasts were tipped in hard, dark pink n*****s. Her rich, brown curls cascaded down her back but didn't obscure her front. She was absolutely perfect in my eyes. I was eager to test her. First, I would deflower and feed off her. I fed just enough to ensure I wouldn’t get carried away, before I left my hotel room for the auction. It was a dangerous thing for the servants, if a vampire waited until he was starving to feed.

Amelia POV

                My heart still beat wildly as David put his arms around me. I didn’t lie when I said he was really handsome. And my master is someone Bethesda knows well and obviously has some love for. That's a huge relief. He bought five of us. I can guess why he didn't buy Faith. She never fully accepted her fate. I knew she held onto hope of escaping to freedom. Bethesda found her when she was seven, so she still had memories of life before. Even though she was abused, she still felt like that life was better. Maybe, it was easier to accept my fate because I didn't know any other way. It was better that way in my opinion. I was also grateful to David because he bought Anna. We would serve him together. It was a good night in my mind. I would do anything to keep him happy because I still had my best friend and always would.

                My attraction to him and my arousal was as real as it got. I reflected on the last two years of my education. Those years were used to build on what I already knew. They also introduced me to desire and pleasure. I read many books about giving pleasure, though I’d never done it. Vampires wanted their servants to be virgins when they were bought. I’ve never even m*********d. All my knowledge when it comes to giving pleasure was theoretical. I hoped it was enough to keep David’s obvious interest. I couldn’t say why he was interested in a girl with a hideous scar, but I wasn’t going to complain. Even If he just wanted me for the night, it was a good night for me.

                I knew for a fact, now, that my life would be a good one. It wouldn't always be easy, but Bethesda wouldn't love a cruel man. I ventured a smile at him. He was really handsome. I would guess he was turned while he was in his mid-twenties. I couldn't guess his true age though. He had raven hair that framed a slender well-defined face. His thin lips were pale, but my blood would give them good color. My blood would give his body warmth too.     

                David was a few inches taller than me, which meant he was probably a giant when he was turned. He had a slender frame, but I knew he was strong. His strength radiated off him. I felt hypnotized by his brown eyes. He’d recently fed, but he was cool to touch, that meant he was still hungry, which made my heartrate increase. Feeding gave them color, made them look human. They were human once upon a time, unless they were born that way. Born vampires were rare though. Thorough knowledge about the species was part of my instruction. It wasn't standard at Bethesda's school, but she trusted me. And I loved her to death.    

                "Would it be improper to ask how you know Mistress Bethesda?" I asked. David made me feel bold. I liked the feeling.    

                "Are you jealous?" he teased.    

                “No, just curious," I said.     

                "I made her," he said, I gasped.

                Though Bethesda never told me the name of her sire, she told me a lot about him. David Kingston was my idol, and he had a name now. Of course, he always had a name, but I didn’t know it until that night. I knew all about his deeds during the dark ages. He saved countless people from being persecuted as witches. His good deeds didn’t stop with the end of the witch trials. I felt like the luckiest human servant of a supernatural. I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face. I felt my heart in my throat again as I pressed my body to him.

                David Kingston was handsome, kind, and a hero. He touched me with his cool hands and kindled my desire more strongly than I’d ever felt it before. I knew that some vampires had the ability to induce strong desire, but I don’t think David was using magic to turn me on. The fact that he cared about my desire made me want him more. It wasn’t just the training, there was more to it. I risked giving him a peck on the lips. He held my head in place and pushed his tongue between my lips. Okay, he's pleased by my boldness. My heart hammered so hard, it was difficult to breathe. He pulled away and chuckled softly.

                “You are an eager one," he teased and pinched my n*****s. "Are you wet?"    

                I didn't have time to answer. He lifted me so quickly. Before I knew it, I was on the bed with my legs spread wide. I looked into his eyes, because he seemed to like that. His slender fingers, two of them, slid into me easily. I moaned from the warm waves of pleasure that washed over me. His touch was cool, but I felt a fire kindling inside me. I rocked my hips involuntarily to feel his fingers deeper. He thumbed my c**t sending shocks through me that made me cry out. He applied more pressure to the sensitive nub, making my hips move of their own accord. The waves of pleasure rolled over me then rushed back to my core. I cried out again when it exploded, my first orgasm. It was so intense, I felt lightheaded. David seemed pleased, and I was so ready for him.

                "That was quick," he mused. "You must be eager."    

                "Yes," I responded.     

                "Who do you belong to, Amelia?" he asked as he pressed the head of his c**k to my entrance.    

                "I belong to you, David," I answered.    

                "And you will until you die. Do you understand?"     

                "Yes."    

                "This," he said and thrust inside me. I yelped from the pain of my hymen rupturing. "This is mine alone."     

                "Yours," I said. Hearing his words and responding to them washed away the dregs of my anxiety. He would keep me forever, and I’d have the best life a vampire’s servant could hope for.   

                "Good, girl," he cooed.    

                I felt my heartrate increase again. His tone soothed the pain away. He wiped the involuntary tears with his thumbs gently. I surrendered to his tender kisses and wanted nothing more than to please him. It was more than my conditioning. He had a tender side that I hadn't expected. My arousal came back, and I rocked my hips a little to encourage him to move inside me.     

                When he started moving again, it was warm and sweet. I shuddered slightly as the pleasure started to build again. He sucked on my lips and probed my mouth with his tongue. His kisses muffled my moans of pleasure, but I knew he heard them. His mouth moved to the side of my neck when I climaxed. When he bit through my skin to feed, it was actually pleasurable. I clung to him until we both came. Then he licked my skin to close the wound. I felt disappointed because I knew he was still hungry.    

                "Don't be sad," he said softly. "This is not the place to drain your strength. You belong to me, but the others may try to be devious and take you by force. Don't leave this room, until I return. I'll send food."       

                "Will you be gone long?" I asked, not liking the idea of being alone in mansion full of vampires that might be hungry.   

                "I will return before dawn. The lock on the door is strong and imbued with magic, you’ll be safe," he said. "Sleep after you eat. We have a long journey tomorrow. Do you know how to drive?"    

                "Yes. Mistress Bethesda teaches us all how to drive," I said.     

                "You will be my chauffeur," he said. "Rest, my pet."    

                I nodded and felt marginally better as he got dressed again. He kissed my forehead and left the room. I was a little tired. Maybe, he drank more of my blood than I thought. I knew he could drain me, and I wouldn't feel or fear it. I still was nervous about being alone, but I didn’t want to give David the impression that I was a coward. I was sure fear was the reason he passed over Faith. The others he bought were nervous but not really fearful. I was sure they would be as happy as I was about who our master was.