My Blood Tastes Sweet

Chapter 4

I kept my head lowered so Elliot wouldn't see any emotion on my face.

He played with my fingers. "Don't miss me too much."

I forced a smile. "I'll stay here and wait for you to return."

Satisfied, he bared his fangs and brushed their tips over my neck without biting down.

"Good girl."

Elliot left early the next morning.

At noon, Denise Carter, the head housekeeper, came to see me. She was one of the few people who knew the Ashfords were vampires.

"That new maid, Megan, really did go to Elliot's father yesterday," she said. "She offered to take your job for 90,000 dollars, claiming she was younger, quicker, and much more eager to please than you."

I clenched the fabric at my side until my palms grew damp.

"What did his father say?"

Denise sighed. "He refused, of course, but Megan wouldn't let it go. She said she was young and motivated, then accused you of being ungrateful and putting on airs because Mr. Ashford favors you. Several other servants backed her up and praised how hard she works."

She continued, "His father finally got tired of arguing with her and asked the senior staff what we thought. We all know your body won't hold out much longer if you stay with Mr. Ashford. Since someone is willing to take your place, we thought this might be your chance to leave."

My throat tightened, and tears nearly filled my eyes.

After all these years, there were still people at the manor who genuinely cared about me.

I went to Victor first. He used the Ashford family's ancestral jeweled cane to dissolve the blood servant bond Elliot had placed on me.

The instant the blood servant bond vanished, the blood servant mark behind my ear disappeared with it.

For the first time since entering Ashford Manor, I felt lighter than I had in years, as though an invisible weight had finally been lifted. My eyes burned, and I nearly burst into tears.

Victor lowered the cane and sighed.

"You've suffered for years. I know how difficult Elliot can be. I've told him many times that he can't treat his blood servant this way, but he never listens."

He looked at me with regret.

"You're a good young woman. Since you want to leave, go. The blood servant bond is gone, and I've prepared some money for you. Leave Vesperton and settle down somewhere no one knows you. Build a peaceful life for yourself."

I thanked him through my tears.

He turned his face away. "Go quickly, before he returns."

I was about to pack when Megan arrived with a suitcase and two maids in tow. She swept into the main house with her chin raised, as though she already owned the place.

She stopped in front of me with a smug smile.

"Elliot's father agreed. From now on, I'm Elliot's personal maid."

She paused deliberately and watched my face, clearly waiting for me to break down.

I merely looked at her in silence.

Her smile faltered, and she gave a cold snort.

"There's no point pretending you don't care. The Ashfords have wanted you gone for a long time. A maid who earns that much and still walks around with a sour face should have been thrown out years ago."

She sounded less like a newly hired maid and more like a jealous wife driving her husband's mistress out of the house.

I felt no anger, only a rush of joy.

She had truly accepted the position.

I would no longer be forced to give Elliot my blood. I would no longer have to wonder whether his next loss of control would kill me.

Megan frowned when I remained silent.

"What's with that attitude? Can't stand losing?"

I lowered my head. "I'm not upset."

"Then get out of the room."

My small bedroom stood beside Elliot's so he could drink my blood whenever he wished. I had slept in that narrow bed for years without a single peaceful night's sleep.

She could have it. I wanted nothing more.

I agreed and turned to pack.

My obedience only irritated her. She pointed at the two maids who had accompanied her.

"Go inside and throw all her things out!"

I stared at her in surprise.

She grabbed my arm, her gaze fixed on the necklace around my neck.

"Give me the necklace too."

She reached for the chain.

I flinched away before I could stop myself.

Megan sneered. "What? You can't bear to part with it? You're being thrown out, but you still want to wear something Mr. Ashford gave you. Aren't you ashamed?"

She yanked hard. The clasp scraped my skin, stinging my neck as blood trickled down.

Instead of fear, relief washed over me.

Megan quickly fastened the necklace around her own neck and ran her fingers over the gemstones, unable to hide her delight.

"I knew it would look better on me."

She shot me a sideways glance and smiled cruelly.

"Something this valuable belongs on someone worthy of it."

I didn't answer.

Inside the room, the other maids tossed my pillow, cup, and clothes into the corridor.

Megan planted her hands on her hips in the doorway and looked down at me.

"That's everything. Pick it up and get out."

I crouched to gather my belongings. I felt no humiliation, only joy.

When I stepped out of the main house, I looked up. The sky had been gray all day, but a thin ray of sunlight had finally broken through the clouds.

I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

I was finally free.

Then the security guard beside the front gate suddenly straightened.

"Mr. Ashford is back!"