Blood Slave

by Roseau, Robin

  "I don't hate it," I said. "I mean, partly I do. I don't know what I mean." I paused. "If she wants to take me, she should take me."

  "There's an event next week at Madame Cathalina's. She will probably casually mention it. Decide what you're going to say. You aren't obligated to offer to go. If you were, she wouldn't be using me."

  "Stupid games."

  "Yes, but it is what it is."

  "Anything else?"

  "She really liked you in the shoes you destroyed."

  "It's a shame I destroyed them then."

  "Yes, and it would take at least a few days to acquire another pair. Plan accordingly."

  "Why does she like seeing me so helpless? It's not like I could run from her, anyway."

  "I don't know. I'm sorry."

  "It's all right. Could I have one of the snicker doodles later?"

  "You can have one now."

  "Too much sugar. I'm wired. I think I need to go to the gym."

  "I'll have Ashlyn slip you one."

  I sighed. "No. I don't want to cheat."

  "The lady suggested you might enjoy making cookies with me. One doesn't make cookies without eating a few. This is a case where, for a limited time only, we're allowed to bend the rules without telling her, but it ends at midnight tonight."

  I laughed. "I like the ginger cookies, too."

  "Those are my favorites, too."

  * * * *

  It wasn't until the next day after our racquetball game, while I was showering, that she mentioned the event at Cathalina's.

  "Oh?" I asked.

  "It's a modest event," she said. "You could think of it as a wine and cheese event."

  I smiled. "Do I get any wine?"

  "You aren't going."

  "Oh." I managed to look crestfallen. "I suppose I haven't earned that many privileges back yet."

  She didn't say anything right away.

  "If I promised to wear those shoes, could I go?"

  She laughed. "Maria told you about the shoes, too, did she?"

  "Will you tell me why you like them?"

  "I couldn't fully explain it. It drives me crazy, in a good way, that you are so dependent on me. I know I should be ashamed for that, but I can't help it. That's why they are impossible for you to remove, too."

  "I couldn't squeeze the latch."

  "I know. You would need tools. Your hands aren't strong enough."

  "Then I'll wear the shoes, and we'll go."

  "You don't have to wear the shoes."

  "But you want me to, don't you? Tell the truth."

  "Yes, I do."

  "Are there other surprises waiting for me? Am I going to be doing more drawings or have my blood auctioned off or something?"

  She smiled. "I think you should sketch, if you want."

  "You want me to sit on the floor at your feet, drawing, don't you?"

  "Oh yes."

  "You're not going to order me to?"

  "No. But you know how I'm going to treat you."

  "That stopped bothering me a long time ago. Sometimes I like it. Does that make me a sick pervert?"

  "Probably, but why focus on labels?"

  I splashed water at her.

  "You asked." she said, smiling.

  "Just remember, you made me this way."

  "I couldn't be more proud."

  I splashed more water.

  "Once more," she said, "and..."

  "And what?"

  "I am going to paddle your bottom."

  "You'd have to come in here to catch me."

  "A risk I would suffer."

  I tried to decide whether she was looking for an excuse to paddle me. I couldn't tell. I finally asked. "Hoping I'll splash you again?"

  "No. I'm hoping you'll hurry up in there then step out here, kneel in front of me while still dripping wet, and offer your neck to me."

  So I did.

  * * * *

  Two nights after Cathalina's wine and cheese party, sans the wine or the cheese, I found Lady Dunn in her bedroom. She was reading. I'd been hoping for some attention, but she'd been ignoring me. I had permission to enter her bedroom with just a knock, no waiting, so I did, then crossed the room and knelt before her. She was seated near the fireplace, but with no fire going.

  I lowered my head, facing her, saying nothing. She reached out and caressed me gently.

  "I'm sorry I haven't time for you today. I need to finish this." It was some business book.

  "You don't read as fast as you run?"

  "No. I read about the same rate you do, sometimes slower."

  "Are you hungry?"

  "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not. I wasn't paying attention, and I gorged while reading. I'm sorry."

  "It's all right. If I promise to be very quiet and not bother you, could I retrieve my pad and draw in here?"

  "Of course. But bring anything else you need, too, so you're not going in and out, and I would prefer if you not prowl around. Take a couple of trips if you have to, but then settle in somewhere. It's dense material, and I need to stay focused."

  "I will. Thank you."

  I brought a pitcher of water and a glass as well as my art supplies, requiring two trips. By the time I was done, she had lit the fire, an act of kindness for me, as she wouldn't have needed it.

  "I will tend the fire," she said. "I can poke at it when I need a break from the words on the page."

  "I'll sit over here," I said, gesturing to another chair. I could shift around without bothering her, and I had a good view of her profile.

  I settled in. I think I was still a distraction to her, but at one point she looked up and smiled at me, so I decided she was okay with me in with her. I did a number of sketches, then I did a drawing of her reading. But the inside of the book was glowing, illuminating her face, and a demonic claw was reaching out of the book, clasping for her throat.

  I stared at the drawing when it was done, and I sighed.

  "What?" she asked.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. Do I need to go?"

  "Why did you sigh?"

  I turned the pad around so she could see what I had drawn. She looked at it for a while. "That's the first you've drawn of me in some time where I wasn't the villain. Is it for me?"

  "They're all for you."

  She offered a faint smile. "Thank you."

  I tore it off and gave it to her. She set it aside after looking at it a little longer.

  "Before I go, may I ask something?"

  "You don't have to go, unless you want to."

  "You're sure?"

  "I like having you here."

  "I am reminded of a small child offering crayon drawings to her mother, who puts them up on the refrigerator."

  "Your drawings are disturbing, and I value them. You are so young, so amazingly young, but in no way do I see you as a child, and your drawings are not immature scribbles. Remember that you're doing something I cannot do."

  "They are just drawings, and nothing anyone would want to display."

  "That is foolish. What's wrong, Melissa?"

  "Nothing."

  "Are you upset with me?"

  "No, m'lady. Please, don't let me keep you from your book."

  "If something is wrong, you need to tell me."

  "Nothing is wrong. Promise."

  "All right." She went back to her book, and I did another drawing. This one was of the two of us. We were lying in her bed, and she had clearly fed from me. There was a little blood dripping from her fangs and more from my throat. She had a hand between my legs. I lay, limp, my head at an unnatural angle. I sighed again.

  "Let's see it," she said.

  "I tried to draw something nice."

  "Let me see."

  I turned it around.

  She smiled, the smile fading when she realized that, in the drawing, I was dead.

  "Is that what you think it would be? I'd kill you?"

  "It's just a drawing. I'm sorry."

  "N
o. Don't be. Is it for me?"

  "Why do you always ask when you know the answer?"

  "I would rather not presume."

  I signed it and added it to the other one.

  "I'm bothering you. I'll go over there." I gestured elsewhere, but she already had her nose back in her book. I took my pad and charcoals with me, but I moved to her bed, leaving everything on the foot of the bed, and curled up with my head on one of her pillows.

  I'd never lain in her bed like this before. She had taken me here to feed from me and cuddle afterwards, but I had never come to her bed alone before.

  I fell asleep there. I wasn't sleeping long before she was standing over me.

  "You should go to bed," she said. "Go on."

  "I wanted to stay," I said.

  "You're tired. Go to bed."

  I got up, gathered my things, and without another word, headed for the door. I had just reached it when she said, "Wait."

  I stopped, and she crossed the room to stand in front of me.

  "Tell me what's wrong."

  "Nothing. I told you."

  "You wanted to stay, didn't you?"

  I nodded.

  "In my bed."

  "I probably snore."

  "You don't snore." She smiled. "Come on." She took my things from me, set them aside, then pulled me to her bed. She peeled the covers back then tucked me in."

  "Thank you," I said.

  "Would you like me to hold you for a while."

  "Your book-"

  "Has no feet or wings and will be right where I left it." She didn't wait but shoved me over and climbed into bed with me. "Roll over and I'll hold you."

  I was asleep long before she left me, although I woke up from time to time, and she was still reading.

  Then I woke again, and she was in bed with me, her back to me, but she was reading. I curled into her back and whispered, "Thank you."

  If she responded, I didn't hear.

  It was long after sunrise before I woke again to the sound of the door bursting open.

  "M'lady?" It was Ashlyn's voice. "Melissa's not in her bed. M'lady, we can't find her!"

  Lady Dunn didn't move, but I sat up.

  "I'm here," I said quietly.

  Ashlyn moved closer. She saw the lady and she saw me.

  "Oh. Oh. I'm sorry." She started to back out.

  "It's okay," I said. "We just slept. Well, I just did." I looked down at Lady Dunn. She could have been dead. "She sure does sleep soundly."

  I crept out of the bed, gathered my things, and followed Ashlyn down to my room. My breakfast was waiting for me.

  "I'm sorry I scared you."

  "I'm sorry I was going to tattle on you for running away."

  "I know the rules," I said. "I wouldn't want to think what would happen to you if you didn't tell. We didn't do anything. I just was lonely and didn't want to leave, so she let me stay."

  "I better tell Mom I found you. Racquetball later?"

  "Sure."

  * * * *

  Summer fully arrived. Lady Dunn and I were doing well together. I was counting down the months to the end of my sentence, although there were still too many remaining to drop it to weeks or days. We were going out a few times a month, and I was actually enjoying it, after a fashion. I liked being with her, at least, and I missed her the nights she was gone without me.

  I continued to draw and paint, signing everything Grace Faire, and I frequently brought my drawing supplies when we went out. Eventually there would be a lull, and she would encourage me to draw, and sometimes she asked quietly if she could give the drawings to the people I had drawn. I nearly always said yes. That had been going on for a few months before I realized that the vampires were waiting to see where I set up to draw before settling down themselves, jockeying to be in my line of sight so they might be the subject.

  I didn't really understand it; the drawings were not at all flattering. Lady Dunn confirmed it was going on but couldn't explain in a fashion I understood. I decided not to worry about it.

  But she went out without me often, as well. Sometimes she would come home to find me in her bed, but I didn't do that very often.

  It was one of those nights; she was gone. I couldn't sleep, but I'd been locked in for the night, and I was reading in bed when I heard yelling.

  "Maria! Maria!"

  The noises drew closer. "Maria!"

  From out in the hall, I heard Maria answered. "We heard. M'lady, I'm so sorry."

  My door burst open, and Lady Dunn stood there, her eyes glowing red and her fangs exposed. I didn't know what I could have done to make her so angry, but I burst from bed and collapsed to my knees on the floor.

  "Maria!" Lady Dunn yelled. "Call Edie. Tell her to get here as quickly as she can. Then get everyone into the safe rooms. Don't come out unless you absolutely know it's safe."

  "Yes, m'lady. Remember who she is. Remember, m'lady!"

  Maria fled, and then Lady Dunn stepped into my room. She stood over me. "You did nothing wrong. This isn't your fault. Run. Run, Melissa. Run!"

  I didn't understand, but she picked me up by my arms and threw me out into the hall. I fell and slid ten feet. She came out after me screaming, "Run!"

  I got up and ran.

  Even as I did it, I didn't understand. You don't run from a vampire. It turns you instantly into prey, and you can't outrun them. But I saw her eyes, the way she looked at me, and I was suddenly terrified. I ran.

  She waited, then there was a breeze past me, and she came to a stop. I ran right into her, unable to stop. She grabbed me, her face a mask of anger, anger far worse than any I had ever caused. She flashed her fangs at my throat, and I knew she was going to rip me open, but at the last instant, she changed her aim, and she buried her fangs into my shoulder.

  I screamed.

  She threw me again, down the hallway towards the stairs. I slid halfway there, and she screamed, "Run!"

  I got up and ran, screaming in panic. I got to the bottom of the stairs, looking over my shoulder, and I ran into her again. I hadn't even felt her pass me.

  She caught me with her eyes again, glamouring me. "Live!" she said, and then she threw me into the wall.

  I cried out, crumpled to the ground, and then jumped to my feet and ran.

  She chased me, leaping for my legs, catching my thigh mid-run, biting deeply. She let me go but caught me again, easily caught me of course. She glamoured me again. "I am going to kill you horribly," she told me.

  I gibbered in fear, but when she let me go, I ran, screaming, "What did I do? What did I do?"

  I ran for the back door. She cut me off, pulling me to her and biting my arm. It felt like she had injected poison into me, it hurt so badly. She shoved me away and I ran.

  She let me run, and I ran up the stairs, then into her bedroom. I could hear her downstairs, and I slid under her bed, trying to hide, shoving my hand over my mouth to hold back the screams.

  I heard her looking for me. She was taunting me. "Where did you go, blood slave?" she asked in a singsong voice. "Evil little blood slave, where did you go? Are you in your room? No?"

  She stopped outside her door.

  "I can feel my blood, evil thing. It calls to me. You can't hide from me." Her door burst open, and I trembled.

  "I can hear your heart," she said. "It is pounding in your chest, isn't it? I can smell the fear. You wouldn't believe what I'm going to do when I catch you."

  She prowled the room. "Are you in the closet?"

  As soon as she stepped in, I slipped out from under the bed and ran for the door, but she caught me by the hair and pulled me against her. I struggled.

  "What did I do?" I screamed.

  "Evil little blood slave," she said. "Think you can kill your master?" Then her fangs sank into my shoulder again, the other side. I screamed from the pain. She gnawed me for a minute while I struggled to free myself, then she sent me flying from the room.

  I crumpled to the floor in the hallway, stunned from imp
act with the wall. She stopped next to me, kneeling down to look at me. I turned to her, and her face was a mask of insanity. Then her eyes cleared.

  "Why aren't you running, Melissa?" she asked.

  "M'lady," I said. I tried moving into her arms. "M'lady. Please, m'lady."

  She wrapped her arms around me for a moment, holding me, then she whispered to me. "I'm sorry. You need to last until Edie gets here. I need you to run. Try to hide if you can. Run now."

  Then she threw me away and was screaming again.

  I ran, leaping over the railing of the stairs, surprising her, hanging for a moment, then dropping to the floor below. I looked up from my place on the floor below, and she leaned over, looking at me. Then she was dropping, and I rolled away. She nearly landed on me with a thud; she would probably have killed me.

  I got up and ran.

  I made it outside this time. I think she let me. I turned left, away from the studio, heading along the house.

  She appeared behind me. "I see you!"

  She knocked me down, sent me sprawling, then grabbed my wrist and bit deeply. There was more pain, and then she threw me from her.

  I ran, heading for the garden. She cut me off. I ran for the staff housing. She let me get halfway there before she cut me off.

  She chased me into the trees, then it was silent. I knew she let me get to the trees, perhaps making the chase last longer. I ran into them, then slowed, crouching down, trying to get my pounding heart under control.

  I peered out, watching for her. I didn't hear or see a thing. I stood, turned around, and began creeping deeper into the trees. I got ten steps when suddenly there were hands under my arms, lifting me into the tree branches.

  "Got you!" she crowed. Her teeth flashed for my throat as I struggled with her, but her fangs found their mark this time, and I knew I was going to die.

  She drew deeply from me as I pushed her away, but then I felt her tongue press against the wound, and it healed. She collected me in her arms and jumped to the ground, cushioning the fault, then set me down.

  "Run!"

  I ran, heading into the woods, but she cut me off. She began driving me back towards the house, cutting me off any time I headed in a different direction. She leapt in front of me, hissing, or caught me from behind and bit me again.

  I lost track of the bites. Except for the one in my neck, none were deep, and she had healed the one that would have killed me. But I was bleeding from a dozen small wounds.