by Marian Tee
“I see.”
“Do you really not want to tell me what you were reading about?”
Zari cringed. “Was I that obvious?”
Lord Erou frowned when he noticed the dark circles under the girl’s eyes. He had heard about Alexandru leaving the compound and wondered if that was the reason for Zari Baltimore’s drawn expression. He said apologetically, “I know you’re lying.” He nodded to the book. “I caught a glimpse of the text.”
Ah, damn. She had forgotten about vampires’ really good eyesight.
“Students don’t tackle the subject of contracts until the last year.”
“Well, that’s just plain wrong,” she muttered under her breath. When he lifted one brow in surprise, she flushed, stammering, “I’m sorry if that came out as disrespectful, Lord Erou.”
He shook his head. “That’s not it at all. I simply wondered why you have such a desire to study the subject. If you have anything you’d like to ask, I would be more than happy to---”
She blurted out, “Why would a Master make someone his pet without making it official?”
Erou’s lips tightened. Did this mean she had found out that her Master had another pet in another territory? “It’s unfortunate, but such things do happen, and it’s not against the law,” he said finally. “Most likely, a Master does that when he feels the bond between him and his pet is likely to be temporary.”
Zari felt herself whitening. “I…see.” She lowered her hands to her lap so Lord Erou wouldn’t see the way they were trembling. “That’s a little unfair, don’t you think? When a vampire approaches a human girl, it’s not like she’d have her wits about her.”
Erou was puzzled. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“Because he could just use his vampire powers and seduce her into being his pet---”
“It’s still your choice to refuse---”
“Ha! Don’t think you can fool me with that. I know about your powers---”
He interrupted her, asking slowly, “Lady Zari, are you under the impression we’re able to control your mind, perhaps hypnotize you into doing our will?” She didn’t need to answer, the disapproving expression on her face telling him what she believed.
He shook his head. “We don’t have such powers, Lady Zari.”
“Of course you have---”
“No, we don’t.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Lady Zari, I swear on my life, we do not.”
Her mouth opened and closed. Now that sounded true. And if it was true, then---
Either she was a nympho, or she felt more than she should be feeling for her Master.
Opposite her, Erou remained quiet, wondering yet again if she was aware that her face was like a live TV display. Her eyes blinking rapidly…she was in shock at what he had revealed. Her teeth gnawing on her lip…she was thinking about what it meant. Her cheeks puffing up…she was mustering the courage to---
“Lord Erou, I would like to ask you something.” Her cheeks were like a balloon that inflated and deflated every second, and it was fast turning a deep shade of rose.
The vampire’s gaze settled on her. Intent, sharp, and transparent – someone who saw everything but hid nothing.
Inching forward on her seat, she took a deep breath and brought her face close to the vampire.
Erou hissed in surprise, not expecting the girl to do such a thing. Her scent wrapped itself around him, and he dared not close his eyes then. If he did, he knew something would happen – the kind that could force a duel between him and Alexandru.
Zari took another deep breath. She would try kissing Lord Erou, and if she didn’t feel the same thing…
Lifting herself off her seat, she leaned closer towards Lord Erou, who bent an inch backwards every time she inched closer. She stopped moving, stammering, “Why are you moving back?”
“What are you intending to do?” He grimaced at how hoarse his voice had become. Did this girl know how much he found her scent addictive? How it was making his cock respond inside his pants? He was this close to forgetting all about playing by the rules. His body begged him to take her and be damned with the consequences.
She couldn’t believe the vampire was asking her such a question. “You know!”
“No, I do not.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I do---”
“I’m going to kiss you!” She closed the distance between them in one lunge over the library desk.
The words hit, and his eyes automatically closed in expectation of Zari’s kiss.
But nothing happened.
He opened his eyes and saw that Zari had a terrified expression on her face.
****
RED.
Everywhere it was red. Red. RED. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED-----
The crumbling spines of ancient texts shelved in the corner. The painted lips of the librarian behind her desk. The decorative squares on the tiled floors. The rust on the steel handles of the wheeled book tray---
Red all over, but like her first vision, it only meant one thing.
Death.
So many deaths.
People she wasn’t able to help.
The whole world turned red, everyone dripping in blood---
Oh God, she was next.
She was going to die next.
****
“Breathe, Zari, breathe!”
The harshly spoken words were reduced into a distant echo when they reached her ears. When she opened her eyes in a daze, she found her mouth covered by---
Zari gasped.
Lord Erou pulled away immediately, and that was when she realized she was lying on the library floor. He was crouched next to her, and forming a circle around them were curious students.
“You fainted, Lady Zari.”
“I---I’m sorry.” She mumbled the words, not knowing what else to say.
As she forced herself up, Lord Erou was swift to assist her, placing one hand on her back. “Are you sick? Would you like to go to the infirmary?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s probably because I hadn’t eaten much today and I only had a few hours of sleep last night.” She dared not tell him about her vision.
Lord Erou was clearly skeptical. “Are you sure?” Before helping her to her feet, he dealt the crowd a look. Just one was enough to have everyone walking away, not liking to be the recipient of the vampire’s glare.
When Zari looked up, she was surprised but relieved to find that the crowd had dispersed. When Lord Erou helped her to her feet, she was dismayed to find herself still shaky, forcing the vampire to carry her in his arms. “No, please---”
“It’s all right, but I do insist on bringing you to the infirmary. You will need medication at the very least.”
His firm tone told her it would be pointless to argue so she didn’t, holding onto him as carefully and loosely as possible when he carried her out of the library. Everyone was staring at them again, and she didn’t want them to think she was clinging too hard to Lord Erou.
When Lord Erou stepped out of the library, they both heard a familiar voice ask silkily, “Is this meant to make me jealous?”
Her head jerked up.
Alexandru!
Chapter Seven
It is both a courtesy and precaution for a Master to let his pet know about his coming and going.
For a deeper understanding, please refer to the written apology of Master Alexandru and his pet Zari Baltimore, Exhibit 1.5.1, p. 16
Alexandru spewed his coffee when he read the footer.
Next to him in bed, his pet giggled. Zari knew exactly what made her Master do that.
“What the fuck? You’re going to include it in your proposal?”
“If it’s any consolation,” she said ever so helpfully, “the Duke of Brimstone has already read it and he wholeheartedly approves---” She gasped. “Master! Did you just call His Grace an old asshole?”
Alexandru’s
fangs gnashed against his teeth as he did his best to maintain his smile even though he wanted to smash the other vampire’s face to pieces.
“Your pet fainted.” Erou’s lip curled.
His jealousy dissipated at the words, and his eyes went to Zari. “Are you all right?” He strode forward, noting the pallor of her skin. He extended his arms. “I’ll take her to the infirmary.”
Erou stiffened. “I can handle it---”
“I’m sure you can,” he said casually, “but you may not. She is my pet.”
Erou glanced down at Zari. “It’s your call, milady.”
Without looking at her Master, she mumbled, “It’s okay.”
“Are you sure?” Everything in Erou told him not to let her go, but if she really meant those words---
She nodded.
Reluctantly, he passed his precious cargo to the older vampire. A part of him hoped that Zari would call his name and ask him to take her back. But she didn’t.
Alexandru easily handled his pet’s weight in his arms. “Thank you, milord. I will endeavor not to trouble you again.”
“She’s never trouble,” Erou said coldly.
“Nevertheless, I shall ascertain something similar will never happen again.”
Erou watched the hunter turn around and walk away, noting how Zari still held herself stiffly, even though now she was with her real Master.
Alexandru waited for his pet to speak but she didn’t, and for some reason her silence made him uneasy and, if he were to admit it, guilty as well. When they reached the building where the infirmary was and she still hadn’t spoken a word, he asked finally, Are you still feeling ill?
She shook her head.
Ah. She really didn’t want to speak to him then.
Are you mad at me for leaving without a word? It felt a little petty, but he acknowledged that it had been rude of him to do it in the first place.
She shook her head again.
It was an emergency involving my work. But I know that is no excuse. I promise I won’t do it again.
She shrugged.
He frowned. Are you really going to sulk the whole time?
No. She was not. Because she hadn’t been sulking from the start. The problem was that she was tongue-tied. She hadn’t expected herself to be, but she was. It had started the moment she saw him.
They reached the infirmary without his pet speaking a single word or even looking at him. The school nurse was there, but one look at Alexandru’s face and she obviously thought better of greeting him in a cheerful tone like she usually did. Instead, she was brisk and efficient, getting Alexandru to lay Zari on the nearest bed.
The nurse asked her several questions and concluded her diagnosis with an advice of getting more sleep and food in her system. “It sounds very simple, but it’s not. You’re close to being anemic and that’s no good for a pet. It’s your obligation to be in good health for your Master, in the event that he needs to drink from you.”
Zari only nodded, the nurse’s words stinging. There it was – another reason why she did not make a good pet. No wonder Alexandru hadn’t signed that contract with her. The thought was so depressing, she didn’t realize the nurse had tactfully left them alone until her Master spoke.
“Are you ready to tell me what’s wrong now?” Her Master’s face suddenly appeared above her, Alexandru bending down to peer at her face.
She gasped, his electrifying proximity causing her to fall back against the bed on her elbows.
Something that tasted disgustingly like jealousy flared up inside him. Had he not seen her getting so close to that damn knight-like vampire a while ago? And now, all of a sudden, she wasn’t able to bear his presence up close?
He moved forward aggressively, caging her between his arms. The more he pushed forward, the more she backed away on the bed until she found herself lying flat on her back, with nowhere to move.
Alexandru was now crouched on top of her on all fours, her body between his arms and legs. She glanced up fearfully, and his green gaze captured hers.
Her Master growled, “Why are you moving away from me?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but then, sensing her voice was going to fail her and give her away completely, she snapped her mouth shut.
Alexandru stared at his pet broodingly. Do you want to be Erou’s pet now?
She jerked in surprise.
Is that it?
She found herself searching her Master’s gorgeous face for a clue to his real feelings. Why was he asking that question? Was it because he was jealous, or was it because he was fine with giving her away?
I won’t get mad if you say yes. Alexandru found himself wanting to laugh bitterly the moment he said the words to his pet. Not get mad? Yeah, sure, that was true because if she did want to be another man’s pet? He wouldn’t just get mad. He would go berserk.
And that – that wasn’t good.
None of this was good anymore, and sooner or later he knew he would be forced to make a decision.
Zari was stunned when her Master abruptly pulled away from her. He was visibly on edge, his body taut with tension. Her heart jumped to her throat. Was this it? Was he going to tell her it was over? When he turned to her, intent on speaking, she panicked.
Zari blurted out, “I had a vision a while ago.”
Alexandru’s face turned grim. “What did you see?”
“It was like what you said. It started with a color – red.” She thought about telling him that the visions also had to do with her possible death but decided against it. She didn’t want him to think she wanted his pity.
“How did you see it? What were you doing? Where were you when it happened?”
Her cheeks flushed at the question.
He said flatly, “You were with him?”
She nodded.
“So that’s the way it is then.”
No, it was not! She wanted to cry out in protest, but she could only look at him. If he really wanted her as his pet, shouldn’t he be telling her now that he wouldn’t be giving her up – no matter what? Wasn’t that what he promised the day he claimed her?
But then…he hadn’t really claimed her, had he?
Alexandru felt strangely empty. He had never felt like this before, not even when…no, that was nothing like this terrible waking emptiness inside him, telling him that it would be worse if and when Zari did become someone else’s pet.
But if that was what she wanted, would he really be selfish enough to keep her against her will?
The beast in him roared in protest. He had given her a choice, he thought savagely. He had asked her several times and he had warned her he would not let her go if she said yes. It was not his fault that she changed her mind.
When his eyes slowly went to his pet, he saw her lip trembling and it was obvious she was doing her best not to cry.
He didn’t want her crying, dammit – not those kinds of tears, anyway.
“Sleep here for the night. I will have enforcers posted at the door so you will not need to be worried. You are not to leave this room until I am sure the danger’s been averted.” Alexandru moved to the door, pausing when his hand reached the knob. “Once we have this case related to your vision resolved, I promise we’ll talk about you becoming…someone else’s pet.”
Alexandru left without looking back.
The door closed behind him.
One, two, three, four, she counted to herself. “Fifty,” she whispered to herself. Alexandru would no longer be able to hear her now. And that was when she started to cry, covering her mouth because even so, she didn’t want to accidentally make a sound.
Chapter Eight
Alexandru was carefully tending to the Venus flytraps his pet had him nurturing in the greenhouse when he suddenly felt the hairs of his nape standing up and evil eyes glaring at his back.
“Rule #23.5 Verbal abuse from Masters should be considered a serious offense and violators should be sanctioned accordingly.”
H
e turned around, saying in exasperation, “I haven’t even said anything yet.”
She continued glaring at him.
He threw his hands up. “What do you want me to say, pet? I’ve already apologized for that incident, have I not? I have expressed my support for this proposal of yours---”
“The sanction for this offense is for a Master to serenade his pet in public.”
His brow shot up.
She said seriously, “And it has to be a Sam Smith song. No one sings love songs like Sam Smith, Master.”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “Who the fuck is Sam Smith?”
When Erou received the summons from Alexandru, he knew what it meant. A meeting at midnight in a location outside the school? It was a duel, definitely, and one he was determined to win.
But when he reached his destination, he was stunned to find the hunter accompanied by his men, and all of them were dressed for battle.
He said in disgust, “I had expected more from you, Lord Alexandru.”
Alexandru only smiled. “Is that so?”
Someone stepped out from behind the older vampire, and Erou was even more surprised to discover it was Zari. She was not wearing her school uniform. Instead, she had on a cotton shirt and jeans, and her feet were clad in heavy-duty sneakers. He shook his head in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
She appeared just as shocked. “What are you doing here?”
What the hell was this? Had the human girl just been leading him all along? Erou said coldly, “I’m not sure what game you’re playing---”
“I’m not playing any games,” Zari protested, her eyes darting nervously between Lord Erou and her Master…for now.
A smile that didn’t reach his eyes still playing on his lips, Alexandru was the one to answer the younger vampire, drawling, “Relax, Lord Erou. This is no setup. As you appear to play a special role in my pet’s life, I thought it would be prudent you were made aware of the truth about her.”
Erou asked warily, “And what’s that?”
“She is no ordinary human pet. Zari is a soul seer, one of the last of her kind in fact.”
The younger vampire shook his head in disbelief. “A soul seer?” Like many, he had believed that reports about soul seers still existing were just rumors.