by K A Young
Locaine rises from his seat and brings the chair back to the desk before tucking it away neatly. His velvety voice caresses me, pushing my fear away, "I would like your answer by dinner time. You can sleep on it if you'd like."
He walks to the door, opening the handle before he states, "The door will be unlocked. I have given you my word, if you want to leave, so be it...no one will so much as lift a finger to stop you should you take this option. Otherwise..." his voice trails off while his eyes capture mine, "I would like for you to join Carly and Emily for dinner in a few hours. You haven't eaten for a while, and you need to recover your full strength."
I can't speak.
Instead, I merely nod my head. Just as he goes to turn away from me, I see a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Does he pity me?
The sound of the heavy door closing meets my ears, my heart returning to that of an average rate now that I have time to think by myself.
It's my choice?
If I remain here, I will apparently be protected...portray as a slave? What the hell does that mean? If I leave and Locaine is truthful, I don't even know where to start looking for my parents.
I will more than likely be killed by other vampires.
I settle back down into the sheets, covering myself with the blanket while the warmth takes hold of my flesh. I bury my head in the pillow, the smell of peppermint relaxing my anxiety.
This world will be theirs soon...there is nothing I can do about that. Things are going to change for the humans, and I don't think it will be pleasant at all.
I sigh deeply, my beaten body returning to its full strength with each passing minute.
Locaine trusts me?
Trusts me to not use that crap?
He will be mine, I will be his?
Maybe...just maybe.
Chapter 17
-Annika
It's quiet when I wake once again, opening my eyelids slowly to the welcoming warmth of Locaine's bed. He hadn't moved me, reminding me that the conversation we had previously really did happen and a choice must be made on my end. My stomach growls with the notion that I really haven't had much to eat in days though one thing is for certain...
...I've made up my mind.
I gradually pull the sheets and covers back, touching my bare feet to the marble floor while a shiver runs up my spine at the drastic change from the once warmth of the bed. It feels weird, my fight having left my body even after everything I've been through, the warm light lingering in my chest...It's a renewed feeling. I know it will take time to become my usual self, but at least Locaine appears to understand.
I meander toward the wardrobe that Locaine had not put his shirt in the time he took me in here to play his stupid little game.
Perhaps, if I'd let him finish his game...
...Locaine possibly would have taken my virginity instead of what happened with...
I feel sick to my stomach a second later, the emotions crashing over me and causing me to exhale a watery breath. Attempting to suppress the pain, I think of anything else, Carly and Emily coming to mind as a simple distraction.
I gently take hold of the handle and draw it open. My eyes run over the different outfits inside that he keeps, understanding that if I am to stay here, my 'appearance' clothes have also been moved. There are different maid uniforms with multiple color trims, lingerie and sleepwear, casual attire, and a couple of gorgeous dresses.
This is a pleasant surprise...
My thoughts linger as I trail my hand over each piece of clothing.
I select out a maid uniform with cerulean trimming and black stockings, knowing I will have to play the part he wishes me to. There is one thing that I deviate from, completely feeling uncomfortable picking out a thong considering recent events, so I chose a pair of dark booty shorts instead.
At least this covers more.
After strapping on matching heels, I step toward the door, lifting my hand to rest for a moment on the handle. Just as I pull down on the handle, I'm quite shocked that it does open.
He wasn't lying...
...I honestly can walk free from his mansion if I want.
I walk out into the hallway and carefully shut the door behind me. Stepping lightly, I make my way down the hallway while I notice how very quiet the mansion appears. After making it to the top of the staircase, I glance down into the main hall. I see Henri and Darius talking, their conversation instantly ending as they become aware of my presence.
Henri appears to be on edge. However, Darius is quite calm and collected. It's the first time I have seen them in just regular jeans and shirts.
Today must be a casual day.
They don't speak to me, as my heels click down the steps, coming to the bottom landing of the large staircase. I make brief eye contact before turning toward the kitchen, leaving them behind as I begin to take light steps away. When I place my hand on the door and open it, I'm taken aback when I run into Rynn.
She catches me by my wrists, pulling me up right before I have a chance to knock back off her figure. Her dazzling green eyes held a new warmth to them that I find a little off-putting at first, considering the way she's treated me; her fiery red hair is in curls as they fall over a black lace tank top. She too is wearing jeans, although hers are skinny and form-fitting tightly to her curves.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, averting my eyes a second later to not upset her.
"You must be hungry," she replies, brushing off the fact that I ran into her, her sweet voice encircling me as she puts my needs before anything else. I nod in return, and she steps sideways to allow me to enter the kitchen without another word or question.
"Annika?" Carly sits at the small round table, questioning me as if in disbelief before yelling, "Annika!" I'm not at all prepared for her propelling herself toward me, locking me in a tight hug.
"Carly?" I ask, still holding the confusion in my voice.
"After what happened to Adam...well...I was sure you were dead," Carly pulls back away from me, taking me into the kitchen as Rynn exits the room silently.
Adam?
How had I forgotten how he tried to stop Jezabel from taking me away in the first place?
"It took him a while to recover, but he is alright now," she flashes me a smile before telling me the events of the night unfolding from her perspective, "Emily and I were locked away in our room the entire time Lord Locaine was gone. He was completely furious...in fact, I've never seen him get that angry."
Carly sits me down in a chair and goes off to grab me some waffles. I've never been so happy to see food in my life, wondering if it's going to taste as good as it smells. My stomach growls one last time before I begin to devour them, not stopping for a second until I catch her making a funny face out of the corner of my eye.
"You...sure are hungry," she arches a brow at me, a small smile creeping onto her face.
"I haven't eaten since the memory ball," I inform her in between mouthfuls of delicious waffles.
"Carly!" The familiar voice of Emily shouts through the door as she walks into the kitchen. She abruptly comes to a halt when she sees me, "Annika?"
Apparently, Locaine hadn't told them I'm back...perhaps, he didn't want to get their hopes up if I decided to walk right out those doors and never come back. I roll my eyes and smile at the way she questions my appearance here, "Hey."
"It's...good to see you," she smiles back before stating, "anyways!" Emily is distracted, her two ponytails flopping over her shoulders as she comes to stand beside the table.
"The leaders of the covens are coming to meet in the next couple of weeks!" Emily notes and something about the way she says it puts me right off.
"Wait, why?" Carly wonders with confusion, "If they are meeting..."
"Yea," Emily nods, the two of them obviously know a whole lot more than I do.
I finish off my waffles and gulp down a glass of water. A few moments later, I tell them, “I have to speak to Locaine," standing from my chair in the p
rocess.
Both Emily and Carly glance at me, narrowing their eyes. "We all need to behave...starting with you addressing your Master properly," Emily states as if I'm once again put beneath of her, not understanding my place now that I've returned, "if the leaders are coming, we need to all be on board."
"I know," I reply, lowering my gaze to the floor...
...What is my place now...exactly?
"You didn't seem to mind embarrassing Lord Locaine at the memory ball," Emily arches a brow, sending me through a sudden spiral of emotions I'd preferably have locked away.
Do they seriously not know what happened?
I have been through too much to explain myself to them...in fact, I owe them no explanation. It's exactly like I never left when I sarcastically throw at them, "It wasn't your grandparents they killed, now was it?"
"What?" Carly exclaims, a fresh new outlook crossing her features.
"To be fair," Emily sighs with irritation, standing up for the vampires once again and belittling me for who I am, "if you hadn't had run in there, you most likely wouldn't have been taken away. You brought that on yourself."
"Fuck off," I reply coldly, "I really don't need you patronizing me."
Yep, just like I never left.
I storm out of the room without a second glance over my shoulder, slamming the kitchen door behind me in the process.
I see, so it's my own fault...
I scoffed, crossing my arms in front of my chest as I lean against the wall. Can I really live here...with them? I know I'm different...and now that Locaine isn't hindering my blood magic...I don't know what to think.
I push off the wall and head in the direction of the parlor where I come across to observe that doors are closed.
Isn't that fantastic...
I decide I will wait, wandering into the main lobby and into my own thoughts. I glance at the center of the black marble floor; the sets of chains are still locked to the ground. As I approach them, I kneel, touching the cold metal against my hands.
It's been so long since Halloween.
I release the chains and stand up, staring at Locaine's throne as I can't help wondering about that night.
What did you think of me?
I walk toward the chair, running the tips of my fingers against the armrest while I murmur lightly, "You watched me as I offered myself in the humans' places."
What can I do, that will change you?
Theo's comment has me wondering, just what type of hold do I have over Locaine that he fears so much?
A moment later, I decide to sit down in his chair, looking down at the spot I had once been chained to from his eyes. I release a sigh and fold my arms in front of my chest, crossing one leg over the other. Closing my eyes, I tilt my head against the chair back, resting it as my eyelids briefly flutter shut.
"Slave?" My ears recognize Locaine's voice instantly, a questioning hint emanating from it. My eyelids snap open, and I see him standing in the center of the black marble floor, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He is wearing dark blue jeans and a gray tank top while he wears dark dress shoes under his jeans.
What the hell? I've never seen anyone here dressing so casually. Well...to be fair, I was locked away most of the time.
"I-I," my voice falters, not quite sure what to say as he stands before me where I had once offered myself to save others from pain.
I blink my eyes once, and he appears right in front of me, placing both his hands on the arms of the chair while trapping me into it. I squeal in surprise, jolting slightly back into the fabric of the chair. His eyes are locked with mine, his voice low when he asks, "Why are you sitting in my chair?"
"I...I was waiting for you," my voice trails off as I gaze deeply into his icy blue eyes.
"Can I take this as your answer?" Locaine's voice is full of wonder, half expecting me to have already left by now, though he's hopeful of what I will say. His beautiful features hold my gaze, the very tips of his fangs slipping through his lips in a smirk.
I return his acknowledgment with a shy nod.
"Then, again I ask you," Locaine continues as his tone briefly changes, "why are you sitting in my chair?"
"Breaking the rules like always," I release a sigh and offer him my honest answer.
"I can see that," Locaine's smug look almost causes me to laugh, though the way he goes back at me is much different than before.
Have I really missed this banter...though seemingly much more playful in manner this time?
Although...this time, he will not hurt me?
Locaine growls and reaches for my waist with his two strong hands, lifting me into the air and out of the chair. I scream in surprise and yell, "Put me down!"
He turns and sits down in his chair, plopping me onto his lap with ease. I squirm as he wraps one of his arms around my stomach, his other hand pulling back my hair behind my ear. I feel his breath on my neck, my heart skipping a beat when he asks, "Now, why couldn't you have decided to sit with me on Halloween?"
I lower my voice, placing one of my hands on the strong arm that holds me in place before I inform him cheekily, "Because, you were an arrogant asshole who thought he could have whatever he wanted. It is also in my nature to protect humans and avoid you. So, the choice was obvious."
"Slave," he voice is cautious as I recall what he said about portraying as his slave...
I guess speaking out is still partially out of the question. I do, however, remember that he does like to be called master...how could I possibly forget?
"Oh, I'm sorry. You were an arrogant asshole, master," I return sarcastically without any regrets.
Locaine can't help but chuckle, his chest vibrating intensely against my back as he tells me gently, "That's better. You need to behave yourself, okay?"
I nod lightly and reply, "Don't worry, master."
"Good," his voice purrs in my ear. I feel his lips on my neck, as he gently holds the opposite side with his hand, delicately keeping me in place.
I still don't know if this is lust...or love, but I am sure with time, I will find out.
I moan softly as the tips of his fangs brush against my skin, sending small shocks of pleasure through my body.
"You enjoy the danger, don't you?" His voice is husky.
"Do you?" I breathlessly retort back.
"Clever, slave," he smiles against me and I feel my heart accelerate, "you know, I really do wish to bite you, but I don't want to kill you."
My eyes close slightly as I let the words settle in, "Too bad, you'll never get the chance." I taunt him, knowing full well I want it as well.
It's wrong...
...wanting him to bite me; I'm a hunter for Christ's sake!
"Don't tease me, slave," Locaine's hold on my stomach tightens at my words, moving his lips away from my neck and leaning his head back against the chair.
I smile, my face glowing softly, "You know," I turn in his grasp, Locaine allowing me to slide around in his lap to sit sideways so I can see his face. "I could offer you something..."
**
-Locaine
Annika sits on my lap, her legs dangling to the side as she remains much calmer. I can't deny the sense of overwhelming relief that her decision has been made, taking up permanent residence within my home. After everything...I don't want to see her get killed, letting her leave would have been the hardest thing I had ever done knowing what the future holds.
"I could offer you something..." she gives me a cheeky smile as her voice trails off suspiciously.
What is she thinking about?
While I arch a brow at her statement, the warmth of her body against mine feels nice, calming me more so than I ever would have thought possible. I hold her loosely around her waist as I watch her eyes shift slightly.
I know she is not ready to give herself to me and I honestly don't ever expect her to, that's why I'm not pushing her or bringing anything up.
After what my father had done to her, I doubt that she will w
ant to be physical anytime soon or at all for that matter. I'm quite surprised though that she continues to sit on my lap, expecting her to have struggled to get off the second I did so.
"What is it that you intend to offer me, slave?" I ask her, the corners of my lips curling into a smile.
"You are putting your trust in me, not something any vampire would do for a hunter so lightly and for that I thank you," she releases a sigh, slowly standing up from my lap and turning away in the process. I'm quite perplexed as she walks out of the room a second later, my heart skipping a beat though, I can hear her heart pounding loudly. I lean my elbow against the arm of my chair, tapping my index finger against the side of my face as I wonder what it is she's doing.
It isn't long before Annika returns to the main lobby, her heels clicking against the black marble floor as she makes her way toward me, holding something behind her back. I curiously glance at her as she settles back down on my lap, her eyes looking up into mine for a moment.
I'm not at all complaining as I'm very much enjoying the closeness we are having. I never thought it possible to open myself to someone, let alone to this little hunter, staring up at me with those haunting eyes.
I hold still as she withdrew a small, sharp knife from her back, holding it in the palms of her hands. I snake my left arm around her waist, holding her tightly at the uneasiness I feel from her. She gazes at me longingly, tilting her head to the side before offering, "I-I...I want you to...to drink from me."
I inhale sharply at her words...
...my little hunter completely catches me off guard at her proposal.
I just stare at her, understanding that the look she is giving me signifies, 'she means it.'
It would be wrong of me to reject her, knowing what she is offering comes from a place of high trust, the apprehension around us making her slightly afraid. With my right hand, I remove the knife from her palms and trail my eyes over it carefully. Now that she has her full power, she will heal very quickly, so I'm not too concerned about cutting her and having her possibly bleed out or anything if I can't control myself.
