The Servant Trade

Chapter 1

Bethesda POV        

        "Mistress!" Amelia's panicked voice woke me from my slumber.

        My favorite pupil was never panicked about anything. Amelia was a resident of my school for human servants since she was about eight months old. Her life had a rough start, which made her strong, in mind and body. My rigorous training made her stronger when she was old enough to understand and learn the lessons. I opened my eyes as quickly as her voice reached my ears. It was a bittersweet night for me. It would be Amelia's last night in my school. Could that be why she was so upset? It wrenched my heart to hear her distress, but I was under contract with the Vampire High Council. It was my job to produce the finest vampire servants in the world. The price was the attachment I formed with my products.

        I wasn’t unaware of Amelia’s anxiety about the night, but I was confident that she would shine. I decided it was time to rise and ease her worries. I had half a dozen human servants that were going to auction tonight, with Amelia being my favorite. She was the best student I’d had in a few centuries. She soaked up knowledge like a sponge. Her fighting skills were astounding, but I believe that was due to her start in life. She didn’t remember it, but she knew it was foolish to be defenseless in a world full of humans and supernatural creatures. I honestly thought it would be a boon to me, if her anxieties were realized. It was a small chance though. Amelia was beautiful. Her physical attributes would have even the oldest of my clientele drooling and bidding higher to possess her.

        When I met Amelia by the door of my boarding school, she was still sweaty from an afternoon of training. I sighed, knowing she hadn’t put any effort into preparing. Was she so unconfident? I thought I taught her to have more pride. She did, on multiple occasions accuse me of being biased. At least, she wore pads this time. Her skin was free of bruises that my clients would find unsightly. Before I could open my mouth to chide her, she handed me a thick manila envelope.

        “What is this?” I asked, though I already had a good idea. It was opened, so I knew Amelia read the contents. She was the temporary head of my house security because I didn’t trust anyone as much as I trusted her, except one. I would have to call him home after tonight.

        “Six children need your help, Mistress,” she said and subconsciously touched her belly.

        “I’ll take this in my study. You, get ready,” I ordered.

        “Yes, Mistress,” she said sadly. “I’ll try not to let you down tonight.”

        She embraced me and kissed my cheek the way she had more times than I could count in the twenty years she’d been here. I suddenly remembered the night of the first, drooly kiss Amelia placed on my cheek. She was close to death but fighting fiercely against it when I found her. I’m still not entirely sure how she held out as long as she did. I nursed her back to health and filled her head with knowledge that would serve her well for life, regardless of how tonight turned out.

        I watched her run up the marble staircase. Her thick, long chestnut curls were a mess from her recent sparring. I knew it would take more time than we had for her to tame her hair. I decided to send one of the teens to help her as I made my way to my study. The contents of the envelope, not the upcoming auction, was what upset Amelia. I realized it wasn’t panic, but anger that I heard in Amelia’s voice. Though she wasn’t one to give into panic, she did have a temper. It would serve me well, if she didn’t get bought tonight. The temper would serve her master well, if he was good to her.

          My study was my refuge. Only a handful of students were allowed to enter for any reason. My personal servants were another matter. They kept the dark leather furniture and red oak desk free of dust. The brass lamps and fixtures shined brightly in the lamplight. The windows were covered in thick red velvet curtains, designed to keep the sun out. When the last colors of the sunset were on the horizon, I would open them for the view.

          On my red oak desk was a silver goblet. I chose silver for drinking vessels for humor. Silver has no effect on the supernatural, not anymore than any other metal. I smiled as I inhaled the aroma of the goblet’s contents. It was still warm, meaning it was left recently. I could identify the donor and was surprised, pleasantly so.

        “You can come out of hiding,” I said just before I tilted the goblet and savored the blood.

        “Mistress Bethesda, you take the fun out of everything,” Brian said as he stepped out from behind the curtain. “Is it to your liking?”

          “I prefer it directly from the source,” I replied.

          Brian grinned broadly as he pulled his scarf and shirt off. Brian was one of my students once. I wasn’t at all disappointed or surprised when no one bought him the night he went to auction. That was how I acquired servants. When they didn’t get bought, I kept them and gave them jobs based on their talents and desires. I gave Brian an appreciative smile as he revealed his naked torso to me.

           “I take it, you’re the one that raised Ames’ ire,” I ventured.

           “I’m sorry, Beth,” he said with sincerity. “I didn’t know it was an auction night. I didn’t realize that she’s leaving us tonight.”

           Amelia was the only one that didn’t think she was beautiful. Brian was her mentor, when he was home. She accused him of being biased too. They both thought they were ugly, but I disagreed. I closed the distance between him and me and embraced him. He only ever exposed his body to me because it was covered in burn and cut scars that he received as a child. His human parents used him as an ashtray and punching bag until I found him. Only his face was spared the abuse.

           I caressed his stubbly cheeks and ran a finger along his strong, blond eyebrows. The pupils in his blue eyes began to dilate as he licked his red lips. He tilted his head to the side to give me full access to his neck. His blood really did taste the best to me. He held me tightly as I licked and kissed his skin. Feeding from him always led to s*x, but I couldn’t complain. Brian was a phenomenal lover.

         “You make me so hard, Beth,” he mumbled and gripped my hair.

         I smiled as his blood nourished me. Brian was the only one of my servants that addressed me informally. He was the only one that ever made the first move. Maybe, his boldness was what made him beautiful to me. I didn’t want to sate my appetite on his blood though. We’d have work after the auction. I would need to be hungry when we started. Brian would need his full strength.

        “You’ve been promoted to head house guard,” I said as I pushed him to sit on the edge of my desk.

        “What will you do with Ames, on the off chance she doesn’t find a master tonight?” Brian asked.

        “She’ll become a scout,” I said.

        I knew that it wouldn’t happen as much as I wanted it to. If I wasn’t under contract with the Council, Amelia wouldn’t be going to auction at all. I confessed that tidbit to Brian. Amelia was a daughter to my heart. It hurt me to think about selling her. I developed some level of connection with all of my children, but it was deeper with Amelia. The best I could do was to make sure she got a good master.

Amelia POV

        I washed the sweat and aches from my body. Brian was the best sparring partner. I would miss him as much as I would miss Bethesda, if her clientele was as blind to my hideous scar as she was. It was impossible to ignore as I looked at my reflection in my full-length mirror. I wore a bra and panty set that was the same color as my eyes, sapphire blue. The outfit made the scar plainly visible. It was thick, about three inches wide, and wrapped around my right side from my navel to my spine.

        I didn’t remember the abuse that left me with the scar, but Bethesda told me what she found the night she brought me to her school. I remembered thinking she was my mother for a long time. I was five when she told me the truth, but I still loved her like I believed a girl would love her mother. Learning my fate didn’t change how I felt. She was honest, brutally so. I respected that about her. She didn’t sugarcoat anything, but at the same time, she did everything in her power to provide me and the others with a happy upbringing.

        Lana and I worked together to tame my unruly hair. My curls weren’t as tight as Bethesda’s. I often wondered how she kept her hair so perfect. It was probably vampiric magic. She taught me a lot about it, but I still didn’t know everything there was to know about the supernatural. Lana growled in frustration. I laughed, knowing it was hopeless. It took at least an hour to tame my curls after a good sparring match.

        “I’m so glad I have straight hair,” Lana lamented. “Why don’t you just cut it?”

        “It’s my best feature,” I said. “When it’s not a mess. It’s good enough now.”

        It was still a bit of a mess, but I could put the decorative combs in it. They looked more wild curl and less rat’s nest. I knew vampires tended to like the wild look. It gave them something to tame. Bethesda encouraged my “wild spirit” often. She taught me the balance between obedient and rebellious that a vampiric master would enjoy. Immortals got bored and needed something to challenge them, according to Bethesda.

        I pulled on my thigh-high stiletto boots. They were made of brown suede, the color of my hair. My ensemble would complement my best features. I didn’t think it would pull attention away from my scar. I just hoped that it didn’t repulse a potentially kind master. Bethesda worked hard to train me. I couldn’t let her investment go to waste.

        I adjusted my bra to give me the best cleavage. It wasn’t hard with full breasts. In the last two years, I was exposed to photos of the type vampires found attractive. I fit the type perfectly, mostly. The catalogs of servants didn’t show any with hideous scars. But the underwear and heels were the standard uniform for a female human going to auction. The clientele wanted to see everything. I was shocked when Bethesda bought the boots for me, for this night.

        There was a sales tag on a decorative lanyard. It told potential buyers what my talents were. My age, name, blood-type, and starting bid were also printed on the tag. I was surprised that it was almost a million dollars because of the scar. Did Bethesda not want me to get bought? It didn’t make sense. She invested a lot of time and money in raising me. I loved her to death for everything. I guess it wouldn’t be the worst outcome, if no one bought me.

        I didn’t have anymore time to contemplate. I put the tag around me neck and rushed down the stairs to the front door of the school that was my home for so long. I would miss running long the marble floors, playing with the little ones, learning, and fighting with my peers. I would miss Bethesda’s attentive care. She trusted me to intake new babies and toddlers. I wondered who would take over when I left.

        The five others were waiting by the massive oak door. It was hard to open for a human. It was impossible to open for anyone not invited to pass through it. There was a spell to keep the residents safe. Only Bethesda’s most trusted students and servants could pass through it to leave. We weren’t here voluntarily. We all knew our fate and purpose, not all of us accepted it. I did though. I knew there were worse things than a life of servitude. I bore the proof since I was an infant.

        “Ready?” Anna, my best friend, asked nervously.

        Anna was another one that didn’t balk. She was perfect, so I knew she would get a good master. Her long, blond hair was tied in a high ponytail. She wore black negligee and heels. The contrast with her pal skin was actually beautiful. We had close to identical makeup. The eyeshadow and eyeliner were painted on to bring out our blue eyes. We also wore blood, red lipstick. She was sexier because her curvy body was perfect. She was an abandoned not beaten infant.

        “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I said. “You’ll get a good master.”

        "Find your confidence, girl," Bethesda chided.

        "What if they don't like me, Mistress?" I asked nervously.

        "Then they are fools. I will find another use for you," Bethesda said.        

        She always told me I was beautiful, despite my hideous scar. I knew she believed it, but I had trouble seeing me as she did. Occasionally, no one bought us. When Bethesda was unable to sell us, she gave us jobs as scouts or protectors. We could never be free, but scouts and protectors had some semblance of freedom. Part of our training to be vampire servants included learning to fight. It was our responsibility to keep our masters safe while they slept. I trained hard and learned to fight well, to increase my value. Bethesda also taught me things none of the others learned. I knew everything about vampires that I could cram into my mind in the span of fourteen years. I never questioned why I got the extra tutoring, but I treasured the extra attention I got from her. Maybe, she was planning for the contingency that I wouldn't be bought; that wouldn't be the worst outcome. Our abilities, names, blood-types, and adoption days were written in beautiful calligraphy on tags that Bethesda attached to the decorative lanyards around our necks. I was an artist and a fighter. I wasn't a good cook, but vampires didn't need human food. I was probably destined to be one of my master's food sources. Vampires had preferences for specific blood-types. I guess it made sense. We had preferences when it came to human food.        

        "Mistress?" I said quietly.        

        "Yes, Ames," she responded affectionately.        

        "About the reports..?" I started. If I didn’t get a new master tonight, I knew I would ask to be a scout for Bethesda. There were so many hurting children in the world.  

        "I will take care of it," she promised.        

        It was a relief to me. I had every confidence in her though. Life as a vampire's slave might not be the best destiny, but I was content with my place. I saw the new kids that came in. They were always terrified. It took months of affection and reassurance to earn their trust and begin their training. I knew that I was one of those kids once upon a time. My life could have turned out much worse and much shorter. Even if I die tonight, I had a home full of compassion and happy memories, thanks to my first mistress. I found my inner strength as she led us through the heavy door that could only be opened by her. I would miss it, but I couldn't let her down.

         When we arrived just after sunset, I gawked at the old mansion that would host the auction. On the outside, it looked like it was deteriorating. There was ivy growing on the crumbling masonry. Vampire had amazing night vision, so there were no exterior lights on the grounds. What I was able to see was courtesy of the full moon that was just coming up over the eastern horizon. The ground level windows had broken glass and thick cobwebs. It looked like something out of a horror movie. Everything was grayscale to me because of my human night vision, which was perfect for a human.

        Passing through the front door was like walking into a different world. There was soft, cozy light cast by wall torches. The light illuminated rich woods, carpets, and upholstered furniture. The furnishings and fixtures were antique but in pristine condition. The primary colors were deep reds and golds. The wood was all ebony, even the torches. The ambience gave the feeling of traveling back in time. As I observed the beautiful interior, I followed Bethesda to our place, the auction room.

        There was more light in the room, with white oak being the primary wood. There was a small stage, for the auction to take place. Off to the side of the stage was a row of chairs to exhibit the merchandise. That would be me and my peers. The chairs faced rows of chairs that were placed for potential buyers. My stomach knotted as Bethesda directed us to get comfortable. She served us mulled wine to calm our nerves. It was warm and delicious, but I still felt anxious as we waited. I fidgeted with the tag and read it a million times. That was until the first client walked into the room.

       I immediately disliked the man. He was tall, skinny, and pale. That meant he didn’t feed before the auction. Fed vampires had a healthy glow that could help them pass for human. The vampire that approached us was here for a quick meal. I was grateful when the starting bid on my tag made him scowl. I would not be his meal. I lowered my head to hide my smirk. I could still see his scraggly beard and disheveled clothing. I observed as he looked at each tag and listened to his grumbling. I knew Bethesda’s prices didn’t cater to poor vampires.

       “Vysier,” a deep, smooth male voice said.

       “Lord Kingston,” was the response from the creepy vampire.

       The response made me look up. The new vampire made my heart stop in my throat. Bethesda escorted him to the stage, flirting and batting her eyes at him. He obviously enjoyed the affection from her. She didn’t even acknowledge the other vampire. He lost my attention as I focused on Lord Kingston. He had the glow of having recently fed. His bronze skin looked warm to touch, and I wanted to touch him. He was a few inches taller than me and slender with finely chiseled facial features. His dark eyes seemed to settle on me. His gazed restarted my heart, but it was rapid, making it hard to breathe evenly. My body responded strongly to his dark, brown, almost black eyes. He had neat, black hair that I wanted to touch. I knew before the auction officially began that this was the master I wanted.