Mercy could feel his power. With a gentle nudge her legs were settled to the side and she was pulled against his chest. A hand pressed to her back, pulling her closer. He was so hard it was breathtaking. Mercy had never felt a man’s chest. Women were soft, at least she was. Her entire life, any touching had been with a barrier of furs. This was what a man felt like—muscle, strength, her knees felt weak.
When Tavish pulled away from her, she gasped. His beautiful blue eyes were white as snow, burning, glowing, boring into her. His fangs were longer. Mercy pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge. The transformation was frightening. It took everything in her not to scream. When he looked like a human man he was handsome, but this, this was what her father warned of—the beast. A beast would kill. He would rip her throat out with those sharp fangs. Mercy felt her teeth click together. Her arms dotted in goose bumps. Her breath was dragged from her lungs.
“It’s easier your first time if you let me relax you, little cub.” Tavish’s voice sounded different. Like a thick heady growl. His words were in her ears, swirling within her mind, surrounding her. Creeping up like a flood of once frozen water to still the flow of blood in her now icy veins.
Mercy felt like she was falling. She watched dreamlike as Tavish descended his head and licked her throat. She was shaking, her eyes widened. Her heart resounded in her ears. Her breath caught as his fangs sunk into her neck. She whimpered. She was trapped. Oh no, no, no, no. She could feel everything, her blood flowing, pulsing, pounding. It hurt. She was impaled.
“No,” she begged. “Stop.” Her hands clasped weakly to his chest. Her forehead rested against his shoulder and her breath ruffled his thick hair.
Tavish lifted his face; he pulled her head back by her hair and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Don’t resist me little cub.” His voice was a guttural command, scaring her further.
Blood dripped from his fangs, her blood. Tiny droplets splashed onto her shoulder sliding down her skin under the covers to her breast. Cold snow-and-ice eyes made her feel frozen. Mercy began crying. Huge wracking sobs rocked her body. “I don’t like your eyes like that, make it stop, make it stop.”
Tavish gripped her face between his palms. “You may not resist. You will obey me. Submit. I command you.” His demand was laced with an animalistic growl.
“I want to go home,” she sobbed. The covers dropped to expose her breasts, but Mercy didn’t care, her eyes were too clouded with her tears. “You hurt me. You’re scaring me. Why? What did I do?”
Tavish was growling louder, deep within his throat. Slowly his eyes changed back to blue. He took a deep breath. Then another. His fangs receded. “You’re a resister.” It sounded like an accusation.
“I can’t help it.”
“I know.”
“I can’t stop you, but please be gentle. You said you wouldn’t hurt me. Are you going to kill me because I haven’t listened? Please don’t hurt me. Take me home, take me home.”
Mercy cried harder unable to control her fear. Even if he took her home, her family was gone. Everyone she loved was gone. The man before had been sweet and kind, until he changed into a hideous monster. She had never felt so alone in her life. She pressed her hands against her face wanting to hide but not able to tune him out. Her legs once more pulled against her chest. She slumped to her side crying in anguish. She watched as Tavish jumped up and stormed from the room. The door-thing crashed off to the side when he slammed it behind him.
* * * *
“A thousand years,” Tavish thundered. “It’s been over a thousand years since I met a resister, it was Ryker. I have too much power to be resisted.”
Tavish was pacing back and forth across the main room in his hall. Everyone dined together for the evening meal where his men could watch over them. It was also a way to discreetly listen to conversations of who was feeling upset or angry with whom. If anyone was having health issues they were hiding out of fear, which some of the older humans would do. The vampires could listen to see if any of the humans had issues dealing with vampires when they weren’t aware of any problems. If anyone was thinking up new ideas Tavish might be interested in, if anyone else showed enthusiasm—or thoughts of betrayal.
The hall was empty now except for him and Laken. Tavish was incensed. The sweet look of his little innocent had turned to horror. She had curled into a ball to cower from him. Shit. He had come so close. He knew he had aroused her, she was curious. He had pushed too hard too fast and he had scared the shit out of her. Now she was alone and he wanted to rip things apart in frustration.
Why? Why the hell did this one have to be a resister?
“What’s the girl’s name?” Laken asked.
Tavish stopped short and snarled. He slammed his hand onto a table top, the sound was like a clap of thunder and it broke in half. The word dragged from his lips with a low menacing growl offsetting the word to sound more like a deep threat. “Mercy.”
“Well isn’t that ironic?”
Tavish glared at him. “I’m not a cruel man.”
Laken sighed. “To her, you’re a monster. Let her get to know you.”
“I’ve tasted her blood. It taunts me.”
Laken shrugged. “Then take her. She’s yours.”
“She weeps.”
“Since when has a woman’s tears stopped you?”
“I can normally calm a woman’s tears. She just cried harder. She needs to obey me, but she needs to not fear me.” Tavish sat in a chair near the broken table. “Times are different. A gentle hand is beneficial to both human and vampire. If our humans fear us too much, they may run. The forest animals will make short work of them.”
“We no longer have need of Anivamps do we?” Laken said and frowned. “You created them to kill the human men who came after their females and to attack other vampires. The ice is too thick for the humans to get around. Everyone in or out must be flown.”
“She will be introduced to Anivamps. But not yet. The Anivamps are loyal to me and I will not end any loyal life. While there is enough food they will live in harmony.” Tavish stood up. “I’ve left her alone too long. She has no one but me right now. Make sure the men are on high alert until I can figure out what I’m going to do with a little Mercy.”
* * * *
Tavish watched Mercy from the door he had quietly side-stepped through as she wandered around his bedroom wrapped in a bed sheet. Her delicate fingers trailed over a hutch he harbored numerous treasures in. Unique pieces of things that caught his eye. An item of remembrance of certain humans who had touched his life, if not his heart. She pressed her face to the glass. Her expelled breath misted beneath her to cover a part of the surface. It was something Tavish couldn’t do. His breath was neither warm nor cold. Her fingers slid across the steamy glass so she could peer in once more.
“It’s not locked.”
She jumped when he spoke and spun to confront him. “Locked? I don’t understand the word.”
She was no longer crying. Her face was a bit puffy from her tears but nothing more. “You sometimes lock up treasures so no one can touch them.” Like you little cub, you are locked up on my land and are my treasure. “A lock keeps someone out; it keeps someone from taking what is yours. I have no need to lock these.”
“I have no treasures. I know of no one who had any…except you.”
“There is nothing special you have ever owned?”
“Nothing as fine as these things,” she said, then seemed to think of something. “Except perhaps a book my mother gave me. But it’s gone. I have nothing, not even clothes.”
Tavish went to the hutch and opened the glass. “Pick something.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t,” Mercy said and stepped back. She looked at the items with a mixture of longing as well as a tinge of uncomfortable hesitance.
“Sure you can.” Tavish picked up a musical ballerina. It was a memento from a Russian dancer. She had been stunning. The woman had made music come to life when she moved. It was the mus
ic that complimented the talented dancer and not vice versa. He had spent an entire six months with her. Tavish wound the base of the ballerina and a tune played. Mercy moved closer.
“What’s that?”
“A dancing ballerina.”
Mercy cocked her head. “No, the noise.”
“Haven’t you ever heard music? Surely you must know what singing is?”
“No, not really. Excessive noise was forbidden, even laughing too loud. Maybe at one time my mother sang to me softly, but singing could lead to something mother called dancing. Dancing is forbidden, our bodies must not touch. We mustn’t entice our opposites to the differences in our bodies. It would be treason, not to mention cruel.”
“What do you know of differences in a man and woman’s body?” Tavish asked. With each word she spoke, Tavish was given insight into the loveless world she must have lived in. No laughing? No touching or singing?
Mercy blushed beet red. Tavish heard her heartbeat quicken. Soon enough he would find out just how much she knew. Tavish began singing the words to the music. Her eyes widened in surprise. Tavish knew she must be thinking: So the monster can sing. She looked intrigued as his low voice hit each note perfectly. The ballerina began to wind down, his voice trailed off. When the music stopped, Mercy was so close she was touching his side.
“Singing here is not treason or against the law?” she asked, there was a tremor of excitement in her voice.
“No.”
“Will you teach me?”
“Yes.” Ah, progress. With the young comes the desperate urge to consume knowledge. Tavish had that in his favor. He didn’t mind sharing harmless pleasant knowledge with humans. “You may keep the ballerina in my hutch and play with it whenever you choose. I’ll teach you the words to the song.”
“Thank you. And, Tavish, thank you for lunch.” She looked uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong little cub?”
“I’ve been thinking about what you’ve said. It wouldn’t be fair if I could eat and you couldn’t. If you provide everything and get nothing in return it wouldn’t be right. It would be almost cruel. At least, that’s my personal interpretation of the situation. It would be like my mother feeding me but not my cousin. I couldn’t sit and watch my cousin starve. If you can keep your eyes blue and you are very gentle you may….”
She blushed. It made her look even more beautiful. Her gray eyes flashed to his briefly before she ducked her head. Tavish was a bit surprised she would offer herself so soon. But her quick and thoughtful understanding showed him he was dealing with a kindhearted soul with spirit. He didn’t want her spirit broken. He placed the ballerina back into the hutch. Taking Mercy’s hand he led her to his couch. He then went to a dresser and from a drawer he pulled a camisole. The color was pale pink. He took it to Mercy and handed it to her. She held the silk garment to her cheek.
“It’s so soft,” she muttered. “Fur is soft and leather can be as well when it’s worked, but I’ve never felt anything like this. The color is beautiful.”
“It’s pink. It’s for you to wear around outside.”
“I’ll freeze to death outside in this.”
“Put it on and I’ll show you your new home. I promise you, I would never let you freeze.”
Mercy fumbled with the garment under the bed sheet, trying to hide her nudity from him until he took over. He reminded her he had already seen her naked. She blushed a deeper red but let him help. When he finished, he took her to a full-length mirror. Mercy gasped at her reflection. She placed both hands onto the mirror and leaned in closer.
“That’s me?” She sounded so excited. Tavish remembered her upbringing. No doubt mirrors were forbidden; it was sad and yet laughable to think of a simple thing as a mirror being construed as treason. Vanity would be considered an act of treason no doubt. It was most likely rare she had ever had a real glimpse of herself.
She turned sideways and Tavish got a good view of her stunning derrière. When prone, he had viewed her while she slept, but standing and preening as though she had never seen herself had him clench and unclench his fists. Her hands slipped over her sweetly rounded behind making the hairs on the back of his neck stand tall.
Good God, what a sight.
His little cub had pale, perfect, unmarred white long legs. High rounded breasts that begged to be fondled. Her nipples puckered against the teasing, mostly see-through fabric. Mercy looked down and Tavish could see her concern. The teddy had easy-access fasteners to her vaginal area.
Tavish turned her in his arms. “When it’s time for you to be bred, the fasteners will be undone. Your chosen two will have access to you daily until you conceive. They will not hurt you and they will not be rough or forceful. All twenty men have grown up here; all have been taught how to please a woman. Never ever fear you will be struck. All are eager to be turned. They are very obedient and faithfully loyal. None would dare harm a breeding vessel, it’s treason. It would mean their death.”
“Breeding vessel?” She shuddered when she said the words.
“You can be a mother here. You may raise your children to adulthood. You can touch and love your children openly without fear of harm. Your children won’t be subject to a loveless life like you were.”
“I was very loved. My whole family loved me,” she said looking confused by his words.
Now Tavish was confused. She looked sincere. Yet how could she have been loved with a simple kiss considered as treason? It made no sense to him. She had to have been brainwashed. Tavish would make her see the truth. His way was better.
“All you were offered before was ice and cold and loneliness. You were taught laws by a martyr. Did your father think past his death? As all your relatives died out, did he think about your loneliness? Why was he allowed a child when you never were? How is that fair? And what about your survival? Have you been taught to hunt, where to hunt? The dangers? Or were you sequestered away? How could you eat after all had died? You would starve to death. Starvation is a painful way to die, little cub. It was cruel of him to expect you to die cold, alone, and starving in his personal icy fish bowl.”
Mercy’s gaze fled to the exotic bowl of fish he had. Understanding flickered. Tavish could see he struck a raw nerve. Perhaps her father hadn’t thought about it, but she had. The visual significance hit home as the bowl occupants went round and round. No doubt Mercy was the youngest in their clan. Doomed to a life of cold nothingness. The idea angered Tavish. There were many more that lived the same life. Word of the humans’ plans for worldwide self-termination had spread through the remaining groups of vampires. Tavish planned to save his vampire family. He would drag the humans out of the ice age kicking and screaming if he had to.
“I was loved,” Mercy whispered. “In a different way.” She sounded sad, troubled. He hadn’t meant to hurt her.
“Come and see what I have to offer you. Decide for yourself this time if you want starvation and loneliness or a chance at real love and life,” Tavish said. “Walk away from your proverbial fish bowl.”
Mercy’s gaze was fearful and yet interested. Tavish tucked her arm into his, she stiffened then relaxed. No doubt she expected to be punished for the contact. In Tavish’s world, touching was law. In time she would get used to it. He walked her down the corridor leading to many other rooms, then through the main hall. A group of five vampires watched them. All were large and muscular, over six feet, dark-haired and blue-eyed. All wore dark jeans, black t’s and black runners or boots. It was how you could tell his vamps from the human men who wore loin cloths, mostly because of the heat.
It was subtle, but Mercy pressed herself a bit tighter to his side. Her small hands made a grasp at the nonexistent outer furs she was used to and fluttered in the air. Tavish sensed her embarrassment. But he had also noted her interest in seeing her beautiful body for the first time barely clothed. Soon enough, she would appreciate the warmth of the sun and un-encumbrance of the added bulk.
Both Mercy and his men cont
inued to watch each other. All no doubt heard the erratic flutter of her heart. Tavish decided one vampire was enough for her to deal with right now. There was enough time later to introduce her to his men. Tavish took her to the front door of his dwelling and with a flourish, flung the double doors wide. Mercy’s audible gasp of amazement and overwhelming delight was a gift.
Tavish enjoyed her gaze of wonder up at him. Had she been told a vampire avoided the sunlight? There were many myths he would enjoy teaching his little cub about. For now, it was time to explore.
Chapter 4
Mercy tried to look everywhere at once. It was as though she had stepped into another world or onto another planet. Her mind was bombarded with colors, colors she had never seen before. The sky was a bright vivid blue, a contrast to the ice ceiling. A few white clouds dotted the skies. They looked like mass-contained snow squalls and so poufy. Mercy let go of Tavish and spun in a slow circle. Everything on the ground was so green and lush, and warm. Under her bare feet it was soft. Mercy had always worn something on her feet; the ice would have cut her. Or she would have slipped. The sensation was like touching and being one with nature.
Trees stretched upwards. Mercy could have cried at their sight. She had seen wood pieces; she had known the wood was called a tree, but to see it growing, standing upright in front of her was exhilarating. She touched the bark and pressed her cheek against it for a moment expecting to feel a heartbeat. The green things she saw all around Tavish called plants. Just like the one in his room. Everything was so vibrant and alive—it was all wonderfully alive. Not cold and dead. Mercy hugged herself; her face was actually aching from her wide grin and she didn’t care.
Tiny creatures flapped from branches to the open air and Mercy’s breath caught. Life, she was seeing living, moving life not carcasses. Her brain was moving so fast to process information, she pressed a hand to her head and heart. This was why birds had wings. So they could fly. The feathers stuffed in her leather pillow were meant to be an aid to the creature. It was why they didn’t have hides. It was astounding. All of the animals brought to their ice home were dead and dismembered, skinned, to aid in bleeding them. Mercy had no idea how their parts functioned.
The Brethren Of Tavish [Vampire Coven Book 1] Page 5
