by K A Young
I fall weakly to my knees as Locaine releases his grip on me. My breathing comes hard, biting down on the inside of my cheek as the tears continue to cascade down my cheeks, leaving behind salty trails.
"Take my slave to my room," Locaine's voice falters slightly as he speaks to Rynn and Darius, the hurt only I know laced in his words.
Rynn is by my side, lifting me on my non-injured side very carefully. We walk toward the parlor entrance, stopping for a moment as Blaise laughs with amusement, "Well, it looks like it's a draw. I did enjoy this round of our game my king. I look forward to the next."
I throw my head in the other direction, trying to get away as fast as possible from what has just happened. It's hard for me to breathe, painful gasps leaving my lips when I'm away from that bastard.
"It was a mistake," I cry out as Rynn and Darius slowly aid me up the marble staircase gently as not to cause further injury.
"You weren't supposed to be there," Rynn releases a sigh, anger crossing her features when she continues, "I told him that it was a mistake, but no one listens to me."
"I know," I reply, gingerly holding my broken arm.
Darius replies with a small silver lining, "At least Locaine won't have anyone questioning him."
"At her expense!" Rynn snarls right back at Darius.
"Apparently, that was her choice," Darius retorts back as we hit the top of the landing, heading down the hallway.
I shake my head and agree with Darius, "It was my fault...I lost control."
Rynn raises her eyebrows, taking hold of the doorknob to Locaine's room. As the door opens, I step inside, Rynn and Darius lingering in the door frame. I turn around and whisper quietly, "I'm okay."
She just shakes her head and closes the door behind them.
I'm okay...right?
I sound like I'm trying to convince myself as I head to the wardrobe and pull out blue sweatpants and a white tank top. After much struggling, I'm finally able to get out of the maid uniform and slip into the comfy attire.
I sit on the edge of the bed, my arm is stiff as I close my eyes, focusing all the energy I have on the breaks. The warm light trails through me and I can feel the blood rushing through my veins and manipulating it just as it surrounds the affected areas. It hurts very much, the connection alone tricky with the pain I'm in.
"Little hunter?" I suddenly snap my eyelids open to see Locaine shutting the door to the bedroom behind him, locking it in the process. His face is brimming with concern as he walks toward me. He reaches out to touch me, and I wince, slightly turning away from him when I say, "Don't."
"Let me help you," Locaine replies, sitting down beside me. His white hair falls across his face as his icy blue eyes meet with mine.
"You can't help me with this," I downturn my eyes and lightly trail my fingers over my arm, trying to force my blood to speed up the healing while my connection falters again at the inconsistency.
Locaine's soft touch brings my attention back to him, his hand caressing my good upper arm when he states, "Yes, I can."
I question him with my eyes, my features turning to interest. He brushes his thumb over my skin, and I shudder against his touch, the bridge of my nose stinging once again as I feel everything that has happened tonight come crashing back all at once.
"You once offered me yours," Locaine continues with sincerity, "now I'm offering you mine."
"What?" It then hits me the second that word leaves my lips...
...his blood?
Locaine positions himself around me, his legs on either side of my outer thighs as he sits behind me. He wraps his left arm around my waist, pulling me gently against his chest. I lean my head back, the searing pain in my arm only beginning to dull though it causes me to clench my jaw tightly. I glance up at him as he brings his right wrist to his lips, parting them to allow his fangs to creep out. He sinks his fangs into his wrist, his blood trickling down his arm the second he breaks the skin.
Locaine pulls his wrist away and lowers his arm in front of me, my eyes lingering on the puncture marks as my heart skips a beat.
"Why?" I ask with hesitation.
"Because I love you. I'm sorry this had to happen. I didn't want you to be a part of it," Locaine replies, his voice relaxing, "if I can take the pain away, I will..." his voice trails off to finish with lowly, "...I'm just sorry I'm the one who caused it."
I take hold of his wrist with my right hand, bringing it slowly to my lips. I lower my mouth on his puncture marks, gently sucking his blood into my mouth. The metallic copper taste pools in my mouth, the blood hazing all my senses as I've never known something so potent.
I can already feel the effects of his immortal blood flowing through me, my bones are healing significantly faster, my bruises dissipating. I feel very light-headed as Locaine pulls his wrist away, pulling away from me momentarily to meet my glassy gaze.
"You're going to sleep for a while now. A pureblood’s blood is the strongest healing property within this world, and I'm sorry that it's going to knock you out," Locaine's voice is distant, as I feel myself being pulled away by a shadow, though I know I'm falling away in his protective arms.
Chapter 21
-Annika
Locaine's blood was incredibly powerful as it had healed my damaged body after I had denied Blaise what he wanted from me. He was right, I had slept for quite a while, a couple days to be exact. The events of the meeting are only a little hazy, but it's nice to recall some of those moments when I wish I could have just opted to not participate.
"Annika, what are you thinking about?" Carly asks, coming to sit down beside me at the kitchen table, bringing her crafts as the cleaning had been completed for the day.
Dear God...what is she planning?
My eyes shift to her when I reply quickly, "N-nothing."
"Of course, she wouldn't be thinking about anything," Emily releases a sigh, slowly lowering her body onto the other side of Carly, "She denied one of the lords and was punished for it. Honestly, your master let you off easy. He should have done a lot worse though I don't even understand why Lord Locaine allowed you to continue sleeping in his room after that stunt."
"I am well aware of that," I retort, placing my hands down on the table, ready to once again run and hide away in Locaine's room and escape the catty girls that reside here. These two just drive me crazy, pushing all my buttons and sending me over the edge of wanting to kill them with my blood magic.
I'm sure Michael and Adam won't agree with me.
"Where are you going?" Carly asks, her eyes widening at my intended departure.
Carly places white paper and what appears to be red, pink, and oh my god...does she think I will take part in this?
"It's Valentine's Day...didn't you know?" Emily arches a perfect eyebrow and suppresses the laugh that immediately comes through. She sighs and begins to daydream while she states, "I'm going to make Michael the perfect card to show my devotion to him!"
"Adam will absolutely fall in love with the one I have planned for him," Carly grins while taking scissors into her hand.
"You really expect me...to give my master a flippin' Valentine's Day card?" My voice rises out of pure shock, trying to understand why they are even making these. It isn't like Michael or Adam love them... They are slaves, usable and disposable without a second thought once they grow bored with them. I start off again, "You can't seriously believe that I would take part in this silly little holiday that means absolutely nothing. You're their slaves...not their lovers...not their beloveds. You're human, nothing more..."
Shit...
"Yeah, you don't have a heart," Emily releases a sigh in irritation, "it's a good thing you can't give yours to anyone then since it doesn't even exist."
"Bitch," I growl, my hands clenching into fists before I slam them onto the kitchen table, the connection between my blood magic and I in full swing as the light ignites in the center of my chest. God, it feels good to have power once again, but the thought is quickly ex
tinguished as Emily and Carly's faces immediately turn away from me. They avoid eye contact with their noses in the air, the resentment continuing to grow between us all.
I feel the presence behind me, Locaine's breath fanning my neck as goosebumps break out across the top layer of my skin, increasing the warmth I feel in more than one way. His voice is low when he asks, "Are we all behaving?"
I grit my teeth as Emily states with emphasis, "We are, master."
Kiss ass...
"Slave?" Locaine directs his next question toward me, "are you behaving?"
I sigh before coolly replying, "Of course, master. I was just trying to wrap my head around why anyone would want to take part in this so-called ridiculous holiday. It's there for the stores to make money off and break people's hearts who do not have anyone. It shines a spotlight on them, which I do not care for."
"Come with me, slave," is all the response I receive from Locaine, Emily and Carly's eyes darting toward me with underlying smugness, before returning their attention to the kitchen table. Anger flares through me and I just roll my eyes while huffing, turning around and following Locaine's back as he makes his way to the parlor with me in tow.
Oh, goodie...taking me back to where I made a fool of myself.
I mentally slap myself for trying to stand up that night we played The Slaves Game. I should have just listened to him and went straight to his room, but no...I wanted to make sure he wasn't going to be put through more scrutiny by rudely not allowing his own slave to play...I don't know, I just wish I wasn't hiding behind this fabrication of a being I'm presenting myself before the rest of the vampires.
Locaine comes to an immediate halt in front of the parlor doors, opening them and motioning for me to step inside. His eyes do not glance down at me as I quickly move past him with annoyance. I'm just so fed up with all this bullshit...who the hell invented this stupid holiday?
It's the stores...they did it.
I can hear the door closing faintly behind me, a shiver running down my spine when I hear them locking quietly before Locaine pulls me flush against his muscular chest. His arms wrap around my waist, his lips brushing the side of my neck delicately. Breathing in sharply, I withhold the moan that wants to so easily escape from my lips.
"Behind closed doors..." Locaine murmurs against my skin, his voice reassuring me about the anger that had been ready to ignite if he hadn't stepped in when he did.
I whisper back, "They irritate me to no end...I-I can barely control myself around them. I'm so sorry."
Locaine slowly turns me around in his arms, his eyes locking with my own a few seconds later, "I know. That's the exact reason why I pulled you away."
"Thank you," I breathe a sigh of relief. I finally ask as I've been meaning to have this one question answered, "Why do your coven members have to choose such annoying girls to be their playthings?"
Locaine attempts to restrain himself, but a faint snicker passes through his lips as he responds, "I don't know, but I can't agree with you more."
I roll my eyes and sigh heavily. Even if he agrees with me, it changes nothing about how I must continue to be cordial with the other girls.
"Now," Locaine asks, amusement clear in his eyes, "why do you hate Valentine's Day so much?"
I glare at him, "It's a stupid holiday. To be honest, I'd rather have a repeat of Halloween's events than must be around people acting stupidly in 'love.' Love, lust...what's the difference?" I pause a moment before I state, "You shouldn't need a specific day of the year to show someone you love them...that's stupid as you're supposed to show your love all year long."
"Oh, I see," Locaine chuckles, the tips of his fangs coming dangerously into view between his slightly parted lips, "you're secretly jealous, then aren't you?"
"Did I stutter?!" I almost fly off the handle, "Did you not hear one word I said?!"
Locaine's eyes spark, practically dragging me over to one of the black leather chairs before shoving me down into it. He narrows his eyes at me and says, "No, I heard you perfectly clear. I just refuse to believe that you can't see the difference between love and lust."
"Yes, I can, ass," I push against his shoulders as he keeps my back against the chair. It's a useless struggle, and once I've given up, I just stew in my anger toward him in this very moment. Slowly, he releases his hold on my shoulders, lowering himself to kneel in front of me.
"I love you, my little hunter," Locaine brushes the stray strands of my brown hair behind my right ear, his touch bringing a shudder through my body, "you have to let the humans believe in hope. Hope that they will one day find someone who will do anything and everything for them...if they can't hang onto that shred of light, then their lives plummet into darkness. Everyone wants to be loved and cared for...everyone deserves to find that one being in their life that will fulfill each wish and desire they have. Unfortunately for them, they are just humans...and will more than likely die at the hands of a vampire before finding what they are searching for. As you stated so boldly...they are disposable."
Even he heard what I said...
"Locaine..." I stop fighting him, regretting every cruel thing I had just said to Carly and Emily. Yes, they got on my nerves, but they didn't deserve my hateful words toward them just because I despise the holiday itself. Who was I to speak for Michael and Adam, maybe they have feelings deep down toward their slaves like Locaine has with me? I hadn't even realized exactly how far his feelings went for me until he told me he loved me.
He's right...being loved is all anyone can hope for. Whether that is from friends, family, boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands or wives, lovers or beloveds...it doesn't matter.
His hands rest on my knees, slowly running his hands on the outer part of my thighs. I lose sight of them as they disappear under the skimpy maid skirt. I feel a warm heat push up to the surface of my skin, his hands trailing back down over the tops of my thighs, snapping the clips of the garter belt that hold my stockings up.
As he begins to pull my thighs apart slowly, I breathe in sharply, his fingertips lightly tracing random lines and shapes on my outer thighs.
I feel my breath hitch in my lungs as Locaine's gentle lips contact the inner flesh of my thigh, the need for him building deep within me. The tips of his fangs brush my vulnerable skin, his tongue swirling on a spot on my thigh as I moan loudly, tilting my head back.
He smirks against me, his husky voice whispering, "I smell your arousal, my little hunter. Now tell me...is this love or lust?"
Ass...
Lifting away from my thighs, I groan in protest and disappointment, the unrest evident in my eyes. His eyes meet with mine, the black roses meeting me and somehow making me feel protected despite the dark depths they reflect...
...soulless.
Locaine takes my chin delicately in his fingertips, bring my lips to his. Sighing, I close my eyes, only to feel a silky texture contact my lips instead of Locaine's. I'm entirely startled as my eyelids flutter open, staring into Locaine's as I pull back slightly. When my gaze quickly flickers down, I behold a red rose resting gently against my lips.
"You are so much more than I could ever have expected out of a slave...let alone a hunter," Locaine's smirk crosses his face as I take the rose from his hand. His lips part as he asks with sincerity, "Will you be my valentine? Or do you think it's just a silly little holiday?"
I blush instantly at his words, turning my face away from him as I hadn't expected him to do something like this.
"Yes, it is a silly little holiday," I whisper, bringing my rosy face back to meet his eyes, "however, I'd be your valentine any day."
Chapter 22
-Annika
The evening is a cold one, the air sharp as it cuts against my flesh while the wind whips my hair around my shoulders like a cloak. My shoulders are bare while the light sapphire knee length dress I wear has no shoulder straps, hugging my chest tightly. I'm wearing silver heels, just a few inches off the ground, standing very quietly as the apprehension of
the moment had arrived quicker than I would have expected it to.
I stand roughly two feet behind and to the right of Locaine, my gaze quickly flickering to him for a moment, my heart skipping a beat as the silence continues to gather around us all. Locaine is wearing a full dark tuxedo suit as he stands at a podium, his hands clasping the sides while he remains calm and collective. I've never seen him the way he's portraying himself right now, something only a ruler's demeanor can show that reminds me that at this moment, Locaine is the king of the vampires and very shortly, he'll claim the world for them.
There are cameras all around us, putting me on edge as I keep my features from drifting too much, wanting to remain as indifferent as possible. For me being a hunter and standing at his side, it reflects an image to the world. One that shows our defeat...one that shows he possesses the submission of the very species that's capable of killing him. Fear...
It's been a month since the decision had been made by the coven leaders to make their presence completely known and overtake the human world. It's for this reason alone that the cameras remain on us, focusing in and out as the reveal will commence very shortly.
The announcement is about to take place, and Locaine will begin broadcasting live to every network station in a matter of minutes what the fate of the world has been decided. Those who once believed that vampires were mere myth are about to have their world turned upside down, and I'm sadly not able to do a thing about it, my choice sealing my fate to Locaine as my allegiance remains with the vampires now.
My eyes meet those of a human, sitting shakily behind the main camera as he attempts to calm his nerves, though I'd be just as terrified if I were being threatened into the position he fills. If I had experienced just a small amount of what the vampire world has to offer, I pity the humans as their lives are about to change...forever.
