The Servant Trade

Chapter 6

    Amelia POV

        When I pulled into the driveway of David's estate, it was nearly sunset. The drive was three days and very lonely. We stopped during the night, so he could feed and make love to me. He also hunted for animals for me to clean, cook, and eat. I also knew the flora well enough to make sure I had vegetables and fruits to balance my meals, but those were scarce this time of the year. Unfortunately, I never mastered cooking. Everything tasted awful. I was looking forward to a good meal. Anna was an excellent cook, and David bought her too.

        While I drove, David slept in a box, not a coffin exactly. The box had a luxurious mattress, upon which I rested when we stopped, after we made love. The bed was more comfortable than sleeping in a tent, especially since it was getting colder the further north we went. I was glad it just hadn’t snowed yet. The box protected him from the rays of the sun. I stopped and checked it a million times during the drive to ensure the sunproof box was doing its job. David laughed hysterically at my paranoia. But his laughter was infectious, even when it was at my expense.

         "The Master is home!" someone yelled over an intercom system as I drove through the gate.

        I honestly didn't like that. The gate opened without any code. There was no one there to check me in. That would change fast, if I had anything to say about it. I learned about the place I would live out the rest of my life during the journey. David had no less than fifty servants in his employ. They were bound to him, but he paid them wages to keep his house running efficiently and his presence a secret. Most of the residents were descendants of the slaves he bought in the past. I wondered, not out loud, why I was different. He gave his servants free rein to seek each other out for companionship. There were even a few married couples on the grounds. However, I wasn't allowed to seek anyone but him for my physical needs. He was a good lover, so I couldn't really complain.

        "Are we really home?" he asked from the back, sleepily.

        "You're going to get a burn," I warned. "Then I will laugh at your expense."

        "Will you now?" he asked. "How will you laugh, if I fill your mouth with my c**k?"

        I couldn't repress the laugh at his comment. I knew he would do it. He liked my mouth as much as he liked my cunt. He was powerful enough that I didn't worry about the sun really hurting him, but the first day of the drive, he drove while I slept until there were blisters on his face. A little of my blood and some good rest fixed him right up, but it did look painful.

        "If your face looks like Freddy Krueger when you take me tonight, I'd rather suck your c**k, honestly," I said bluntly.

        "Oooh!" he said eagerly. "I like roleplay. When you park, run and hide. I'll hunt you down and have my way with you."

        "That's not fair, David!" I protested. "First, I don't know my way around this place. Second, you're a f*****g vampire. I can't outrun you or hide from you."

        "You're taking the fun out of it," he fake whined.

        "How much of a head start do I get?" I asked, looking at him in the rearview.

        Contrary to popular belief, vampires do have reflections. It's a matter of physics and has nothing to do with souls. I don't really think they're soulless either. They have the same good and evil tendencies as humans. Their laws and the consequences for breaking them are a bit more barbaric than western culture, but there was a time when humans burned independent thinkers as witches. Witches really did exist, but again, like humans there were good and bad ones.

        "Stop the car and go hide," he said. "I'll give you a half hour. I do need to introduce myself to the other new members of my household."

        "Can we talk about your security, when we're done playing?"

         "The gate won't open without my consent, kind of like the door at Beth's school," David said.

         "I still don't like it," I said. "If something happened to you, then we're all dead or resold. If something happens to you, who will f**k me blind and leave me begging for more?"

         "Is that all I'm good for? Security? And s*x?"

"I guess, you're nice to look at when your face isn't blistering," I said with a smirk. "It's starting to. You'll just have to f**k me from behind."

         "Run, Ames," he growled.

David POV

        After the night I acquired five new servants, the one I kept with me learned not to fear me, I’m actually pretty sure she didn’t fear me at all. She knew about the spell I had put on her. It was a magical chastity belt, with more severe consequences. She expressed hurt and anger about it but not fear. I removed the spell the second night of our drive, when I fed on her. It was mostly for her protection anyway. After I tasted her blood the first time and took her innocence, I was sure she was mine in every way possible. She gave it all to me, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. The last time I had anyone do that was the last time I turned a human. Roman, my youngest offspring was still living at the manor.

          When I told Amelia to run, she started laughing hysterically as she climbed out of the car. The heat from the sun did make my face hurt, but it would heal as soon as the sun set. That was why I wanted to talk to the household first, that included Roman. He'd be irritable if I woke him early, but it was my house. I watched for a moment as Amelia's tangled hair bounced with her hurried strides to get away from the car. Her laugh was like music to my ears, which was why I strove to bring her to hysterics. If she had to laugh at me, so be it. I'm too old to be easily offended.

          When I couldn't see her anymore, I left the car and went onto the house. The foyer was dark as night. I felt the relief immediately. The newcomers were all gathered, as I expected. Amelia called ahead to pass on my instructions. She was reliable right away. I just hoped that Bethesda molded the others as effectively. They were all beautiful because they were in optimal health. However, not even my first offspring could guarantee absolute loyalty. The servants she raised did have a reputation for being the loyalist. It was what made hers the most expensive to buy. A loyal, beautiful, healthy, and strong servant was worth every penny.

          Loyalty was the most important trait to me. I knew there was a traitor in my house. It was a good thing that Amelia had the sense to alter the route home after the first night. I decided she would take over my trip planning. I wasn’t entirely sure who planned this one, but I did know who was in charge of my guard. I question him with Amelia present. Bethesda trusted her enough to give her the temporary position of head of security for her school. If I didn’t like Floyd’s answers, Amelia would take his place.

          My head household servant approached with a warm smile. I bought Bea from Bethesda when she was just twenty. Now, she was nearly sixty-five. She was as beautiful at twenty as Amelia is. Her now gray hair used to be raven black. She skin was still tan, but it had lines from a life of hard work. I stopped feeding from her about twenty years ago and stopped inviting her to my bed when she turned fifty. She was still strong for her age, but her body couldn’t handle vampiric passion anymore. Bea was also married and had children and grandchildren. I kissed her cheek with genuine affection. She was one that never gave me reason to doubt her loyalty or affection.

          “Welcome home, David,” she said sincerely.

          "It is good to be home," I said. "Is your grandbaby here yet?"

          “Not yet, Sir," she said. "Maybe, he's waiting for you to get back."

          “Well, I’m going to be home for a while. This new girl is a bit wild and needs some taming,” I said.

          One of the new servants failed to repress a snicker. She had waist-length, straight blond hair. Bethesda never cut her girls’ hair. She often kept the boys’ hair long too. The laughing woman had full hips and breasts, similar to Amelia. She had the same big blue eyes, but that was where the similarities in their appearance ended. They did have a similar bearing about them that I found attractive.

        “Do you wish to share the joke…um?” I started, realizing I didn’t know her name yet.

        “I’m Anna, sir,” she said. “There is no taming Amelia.”

        “It’s not likely that Beth put much of an effort into taming her,” I mused.

        "You are as lovely as the day you moved here," I returned.

        "Sir, where's Ames?" one of the men asked, a little boldly.

        "Ames had the audacity to say I looked like Freddy Krueger," I informed her former peers. "I told her to run and hide before I devour her."

        "Oh lord, she's going to get her big mouth in trouble," Anna said.

        "I am over a thousand years old. I can assure you, I know how to deal with that mouth." The others relaxed and giggled with Anna. "You will feed me tonight, Miss Anna, so my appearance doesn't repulse my quarry."

        "Yes, S..."

        "Call me David, unless we're in public," I said. "Formality is so boring. Now, some ground rules." The four young humans all nodded, looking completely shocked. "I technically own you by vampire law. I will periodically feed off you, so I don't starve, and you bear my scent. Roman will also be granted access to your blood and bodies. He is my youngest and the apple of my eyes at the moment. You will be given wages based on how hard you work and how well you perform your duties. Bea is the head of my household and will assign your daily tasks. She will also give me reports about the quality of your work.

        "Further, you may seek out each other for companionship. I will not force s*x on any of you, neither will Roman. It's honestly no fun without a willing partner. If ANYONE in my estate tries to force s*x on you, report it to me directly. I will deal with it accordingly.

        "You are free to go into town so long as you schedule it with Bea. Go in groups for safety. Hunters are everywhere. There are other supernatural beings that will hunt you to get at me, especially other vampires. Only my spawn has any real respect for me. On that note, you are dismissed. I need to play hide-n-seek with a mouthy lady."

        "Did you need anything from me?" Bea asked.

        "Enjoy your evening, love. Tell my lazy son to find me the moment he graces us with his presence."

        "I will relay the message. Enjoy your game," Bea said and winked.

Amelia POV

        I hid for more than a half hour before I started to feel restless. This game was losing its fun because I expected to be found and f****d by now. Maybe, David just needed some blood. He did say he would feed from someone else because I needed to recoup. I decided to wander aimlessly and familiarize myself with the estate, until he was ready to finish the game HE suggested. The wandering would give me an opportunity to assess David’s security anyway. I still had yet to see any type of guard, which I didn’t like.

        "Stop where you are!" a voice that sent a chill down my spine said.

        I spun around to face a robust man with chestnut curls and hazel eyes, or they would be, if they weren't so pale. He had a complexion that would be deep tan when he fed. I met his eyes to show that I didn't have any fear of him. I knew, if he touched me with intent to hurt me, he would be burned, literally. If he was on David’s property, that meant he was David’s youngest offspring. I learned a little about him during the short journey.

        "You're trespassing," he said.

        "How does one trespass onto property that is enchanted with protection spells?" I inquired. "Are there breaches in the system?"

        "How did you get in here? You're not a witch," he said.

        "I drove in through the front gate," I said. "Can witches breach the perimeter? That's not good. Do you know what they can do with vampire parts?"

        "How does a scrawny human know any of this? You're obviously not a hunter because you're unarmed, unless you're dumber than a typical hunter," the man said.

        "You must be Roman," I ventured. "Your sire said you are a little abrasive and arrogant. I’m not scrawny or dumb, by the way."

        "And I still don't know who you are," he said.

        "My name is Amelia," I said. "I'm HIS woman of the moment. You'll have to wait until he's bored of me to take a go."

        "Okay, I like you," Roman said. "We can shake hands and be friends. I won't bite and risk his ire. Why are you wandering around alone?"

        "He's supposed to hunt me down, like a slasher film villain, and take me," I explained.

        "He does like his games," Roman said. "I'll hide you up there, he won't think to look up." Roman pointed to a branch that was obviously too high for me to climb up to. For him it would be nothing. I grinned and nodded. He laughed as he whisked me off my feet. We landed on the branch moments later. "I'll make sure you don't fall before he finds you. Then I'll dip."

        "Thanks, you're a life saver. I think my impatience is killing me," I said.

Roman POV

        I knew the moment that I saw Amelia that she was one of the new servants that David bought from my beloved brood mate, Bethesda. I decided to interrogate her to see how she would respond. Why? Because I was bored. Sometimes, I give the servants, especially the new ones, a hard time for entertainment. Amelia didn’t flinch or cower. I have to say I respected that. She presented a playful demeanor because of my sire’s game, but I could tell something was bothering her.

        “Okay, out with it,” I said. “Is your new master a disappointment?”

        “It’s not that,” she said. “I think your security is a little lax. I haven’t seen a guard since we arrived. There wasn’t even one at the gate.”

        “Don’t you have faith in the protection spells?”

        “You deduced that I’m not a witch, while implicating one could possibly skirt the spells,” she pointed out. “Do you know what witches like to do with vampires?”

        “I do,” I said with an involuntary shudder.

        Witches liked to use the organs and other body parts of supernatural beings for spells and potions. Some of the more academic witches liked to dissect all manner of living, or undead, things to study how they worked. A witch could dissect a vampire without killing, therefore we were one of their favorites for experiments.

       “David’s spells are strong and made strong with mine added to the mix,” I assured Amelia.

       “Also, I think you have a traitor in your guard,” she said as she rolled up her sleeve. “I obtained this while fighting off a hunter that seemed to be expecting your sire.”

        Amelia had a new looking scar on her forearm. The drive was only three days, which meant David closed the wound with his tongue. That was a good sign for his new favorite. It was a common practice for David to lay claim on one servant when he bought several from my brood mate at one time. I was always curious about what characteristics and/or physical features he looked for. Sometimes his “pet”, for lack of a better term, was a man, sometimes a woman. I was his pet once. Then he turned me. I didn’t remember anything about my human life except how I felt about my sire.

        Amelia had wild but loose chestnut curls. Like many of the women Bethesda raised, her thick hair was to her waist, which wasn’t dainty. She had full breasts and hips. David did love voluptuous women. Amelia wasn’t by any means fat, but she had luscious curves that made me slightly jealous of my maker’s claim on her. I knew she was in optimal healthy because of who raised her. There was a fire in her large, blue eyes that I have to admit I found appealing. Maybe that was why David claimed her. He told me about the hunter finding them through our familial telepathy.

        “Is that the only wound you received during the fight?” I asked.

        “Luckily,” Amelia answered as she pulled her sleeve down. “The ignorant, little man came armed with silver daggers, stakes, and gun with silver bullets. He had crosses of course too. But his fighting skills were lacking. He tried to talk me down until he got impatient and pulled a gun. That’s when David stepped in.”

        It seemed like she was disappointed with the fight that left her with a new scar. I found it amusing and knew we’d be good friends quickly. She continued to discuss her observations that led me to agree with her about a disloyal servant. It was too convenient that there was a hunter waiting for a vampire at David’s first scheduled stop of his journey. Amelia continued by saying she altered the route to avoid more confrontations.

        “Is it possible that the hunter was sent as a source of entertainment for David?” I asked.

She looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. “I suppose, but what if I wanted to be ‘free’? David would be dead, and I’d be a hunter.”

        “True,” I conceded. “Will you help fish the bastard out?”

        “Gladly, if I can take him or her down,” Amelia said with a conspiratorial grin. The way she rubbed her hands together to add to the maniacal effect was hysterical.

        “I think he’s coming,” I told her. “Have fun with your game, we’ll continue this discussion later.”

        I had my suspicions about who tried to have my sire killed. It was time to round them up. David had an impeccable skill for flushing out liars. I couldn’t help the smile and chuckle when I heard David’s new favorite scream then laugh. It was obvious that he found her. David was always good to the servants that served him loyally. Amelia was at the very least infatuated with him. I could tell by the way her heartrate increased when she talked about her game with him. There was also a flush of anger in her face when she talked about the hunter that found them. I knew she wouldn’t be a problem for David or myself and could see a friendship in our near future.