What vampire didn’t feed on human blood? I certainly had, yet I didn’t wish to do it now, not like this. This was for prurient interest. We fed because we required blood and human blood was best, but we didn’t have to drain the person. That was up to each vampire and because of all that happened to me, I was at the point where I no longer wished to kill any living thing!
I looked around for an opportunity to escape. Another female whispered. “They will bring you down before you know it.”
I wondered if that wouldn’t be better, if I wouldn’t prefer that. I think she realized. “Feed, feed a little just to show you are obeying.”
That seemed a reasonable suggestion. Down I sank onto my knees. As I bent toward my victim, he looked at me. Then he closed his eyes. I sank my teeth into the soft flesh of his throat. His blood was tangy and fresh, for the man was still in the first blush of manhood. As I drank I saw images of his life, just as I expected I would.
I wept while I fed, swallowing his blood, trying not to cry at the sad images of his life. The one thing I hoped I would not see was his impending death. But I did. And when I did, I stopped feeding, we all did.
The Handler shouted, “This one’s dead!”
We were taken back to our cage then. I was not the only one to cry. Our tears were for ourselves.
CHAPTER 21
I existed there for some time, an exhibit—another monster among monsters. The cries of the Rogues were a constant reminder to me of what I had become. Was I so different? If I had thought I was, I now began to question myself.
The place had been called hell and it was. The Handlers were cruel and perverted. I was humiliated and tortured. I think more was done to me too—but I cannot be certain as I often lost consciousness. When a vampire is starved of blood we are weakened. It was at such times they would pull me out of my cage. Yes, it was hell alright.
From the time I first arrived, I thought Gregory was hiding something from me. Something he was fearful of telling me. I’d ask him and he’d deny there was anything he hadn’t told me, but then finally he opened up, “Alright, I shall tell you, Justine. The last coven I was in—the one that perished by the pestilence, had been led by someone whose name you mentioned ... Gascoyne.”
I pleaded with him to go on.
“I was going to tell you. I am sorry, I took long—but you looked weak—anyway, yes, Gascoyne, he had recently left somewhere. He hadn’t much of a coven with him by then. But he had some. He took in those vampires who sought refuge and there were lots that did, such as myself. I had been on the run from Destroyers. He said he was as well because they had come to Joy House...”
As soon as I heard those words, I winced. He realized I knew of it.
“It was a place of evil. I know that. Gascoyne has told me about it. There was a massacre. The people that owned the place had long gone. They have their own network of protectors...I was in this coven for a while. Over time I noticed, we all did, that there was this sickness...as I have mentioned. What we did not know at the time was the cause. We found out it was tainted blood. Humans were becoming ill with it and if vampires fed on them, they sickened too.”
“And Gascoyne?”
“Sadly he was one of those that fed on tainted blood. He grew very ill and would not feed ... he lost weight but did not perish. In fact, he finally looked to be coming around when they came. The Destroyers. We tried to fight them but we were badly outnumbered. They decimated the coven. Gascoyne tried too hard...as I did. But we were no match for them. We were the only vampires to survive.”
I couldn’t stand waiting for him to finish his story. “What happened to him?”
“He is here. They think he will recover. They plan to use him...”
This was too much and I began to cry. “He was the vampire prince of Paris!”
Gregory soothed me. “Yes, Justine they know he was. They want very much to use that fame of his. They have tried a few times to exhibit him but he’s been unable... to perform.”
“Please, Gregory—I must see him!”
Some Handlers had just walked over. They began teasing me. “She wants to see someone! Lady Vampire, herself. Fancy!”
I was pleading with them. It was then that I noticed a dark, exotic looking creature alongside them. He towered over them. His skin was the color of bronze and his eyes were like coal. He looked frightening. Yet, the expression in his eyes was of compassion.
The Handlers lost interest in me when I didn’t answer. Gregory told me, “It is best not to engage with them. They will only use whatever you say against you.”
I had no doubt that they would. I asked where Gascoyne was. I soon told Gregory everything, how I had been attacked and been brought back by Gascoyne.
Gregory smiled. “I thought it was something like that. I must tell you, when I first came to know Gascoyne, he asked me about you. He described you and said you fled from the evil that was Joy House. Whatever happened between the two of you, Justine—he does still care for you! You must remember that.”
How could I not?!
****
It happened when I woke. The exotic man was standing at the cage, looking at me. I was startled and pulled away in fear. He put his finger to his lips to silence me, lest I scream.
Gregory whispered, “That is Ramet. If you think I am old, he is much older.”
Ramet smiled. “Have hope, child.”
I tried to speak, but nothing came out. Ramet was hurried away then for they had called angrily to him. Gregory explained, “He is their servant. Not by choice. From what I’ve learned, he is patient and clever. He will be a good friend. If escape is possible, he will help.”
I asked him if Ramet had been here long.
“Not that long—not by our standards. He came shortly after Gascoyne did. He has helped him, fed him his own blood which is strictly forbidden. Being ancient as he is has helped your friend immeasurably.”
“I will always be grateful to him.”
Gregory touched my hand. “Your feelings for one another are deep. I have seen that look upon Gascoyne’s face when he has spoken of you.” I began to cry. “A vampire has many lifetimes to grow, child. Whatever happened between you, let it remain in the past,” he said. “We endure.”
“And so we do—the alternative is not attractive.”
Gregory smiled for he liked my words. We were both thoughtful and did not speak for a while. But when the place grew noisy with the howls of the Ferals—we did.
He told me he had tried escaping many time. “I have been here so long I can no longer recall when I arrived. I only remember beatings no pleas could halt or lessen. I did try to escape, too until I stopped. The punishment was not worth it.” He sighed. “I will tell you the worst thing ... there are those far worse than the punters. There are special agents that come.”
He went on to explain those agents could represent many different people. There were agents of royalty—politicians and the like.
“What you have to be cautious of are those agents of shows like this and brothels as many are far worse than this place. And if that is so, there are also those agents that represent sultans in Arabian countries. There is one infamous one ... barbarous he is, with no scruples—a pariah even among those of his kind. He is called Sabba and he is servant to a sultan in Morocco. He has not been here for some time. If I see him, I will warn you so that you act ill. You’d be better off to act ill than have him take you away.”
I stared at him after he said that. How much more could I take?
****
I only wished to see Gascoyne. I had to see him for myself. Where was he?
I asked Gregory but he wasn’t certain. “Ask Ramet when you see him next.”
This, I did. I motioned him toward me. “I am Justine. I entreat you—I would never ask for more than I ask now, can you please tell me where Gascoyne is kept?”
He smiled. “I can and I shall. I will take you there myself. Wait until it is quiet. You will see him, I pr
omise!”
CHAPTER 22
I saw him shortly before dawn when nearly all the vampires were asleep and no Handlers were about. I was breathing so quickly, Ramet quieted me. “Through there.” He pointed.
I looked to see a heavy curtain beyond which would be Gascoyne. Could it be so? Was it possible?
We slipped inside. The first thing I detected was the scent of blood, not fresh blood but blood tinged with something else, something bitter—I realized it was the rotten stench of infection.
I saw a man lying on a straw pallet, covered in rags.
“Gascoyne?” My whisper was a wish-filled question.
He didn’t respond, so I hurried over and sank to my knees. Ramet had said the taint was easily spread, but I didn’t care. He looked so vulnerable lying there. How could I have left him? What a fool I was! I touched his forehead. His skin felt hot. “Gascoyne?”
He turned his head and opened his eyes. His eyes didn’t appear to focus.
“Speak to him again...” Ramet said.
“Gascoyne, it is Justine. My love!”
With that, he blinked. It seemed he was trying to see me—at last the look of recognition as his eyes filled with tears.
“Gascoyne.”
There were no words. There was only the emotion of our reunion. My heart sank, beating or not—I felt it fall inside me. He looked awful. His face was gaunt and his eyes bore that awful look of impending death that humans have before succumbing to its lethal embrace. His lips were pale and bloodless looking. “Justine...”
I wanted to kiss him, but Ramet pulled me back. I turned my angry eyes onto him. “Let me go, you fool.”
But he would not.
Gascoyne agreed. “Listen to Ramet.”
How flat and weak his voice sounded. I nodded. I didn’t wish to upset him. I promised I would listen. He began to speak then. His voice just about audible, a whisper and nothing more—yet it was infused with passion, the passion of confession. He told me he had much to explain. “I became evil... they did that to me. Perhaps I didn’t have far to go...nor you...”
I agreed. “I was depraved...”
“Never in my existence had I been so! I deserve this... for I wish to be destroyed. I do not wish to go on!”
Ramet had to take me away. Even as he did, I fought him. When I was returned to the cage, Gregory tried to comfort me. I took a lot of comforting. He spoke of the future. One I didn’t see. I told him we were cursed beings. “We haven’t anything to look forward to, just more of the same.”
Perhaps Gascoyne was right. We’d be better off destroyed. Why not provoke it and end this suffering once and for all? How to do it was the question?
I didn’t tell Gregory anything and as I thought Gascoyne was perishing, I felt I could kill myself as he would succumb anyway to the deadly taint. It was only a matter of time as they say. Why prolong his suffering or mine? That thought made me feel better and look better. Gregory noticed and took that as positive. “You have seen your love and it’s done you the world of good.”
Indeed, I thought.
There were some possibilities open to me—ways I could be destroyed. Staking was one option—provocation could bring that about, another way of perishing was, I would not feed. I knew it would cause a savage death which I didn’t wish, but it would bear thinking about. There was comfort in thinking this way and for the first time in ages, I was almost happy.
I was so committed to finding a good way to die, I thought of little else. I thought Ramet knew what I was planning. He said I looked different which I denied.
Gascoyne didn’t look any better and I asked Ramet what he thought. He realized I hadn’t any hope for him. But he told me to be brave. “I have seen much suffering during the course of my existence. Some survive the taint. Truly, they do.”
I was grateful for his advice, but I felt he just wanted to give me something to latch onto. I didn’t feel Gascoyne would survive, especially considering he no longer wished to.
Ramet, I think, began asking me leading questions. He even told me if I tried to harm myself, I’d be worse off. As there was no telling what punishment would be meted out to me.
I was mulling that over when something happened. The owner of this hell came around. Gregory told me. “He doesn’t just come by for no reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have an agent with him showing him the current stock. They’re always thinking up new ways to make money, praying on the humans’ need to look down on others.”
“And the agents,” I asked, “Who do you think is coming?”
“Well, they could be from anywhere, representing anyone.”
He began to speak again of that agent named Sabba. “He’s the one you have to look out for. He’s a nasty piece of work if ever there was one. If he comes, Justine, try to look ill. Do whatever you can not to fall into his eyes.”
After a few more humiliating performances, one of which was really depraved as I had to be seen in the nude feeding on living men—I was called away just when I was to be returned to my cage.
Still naked, I was taken to a room. A man was sitting there. He was very well dressed, very engaging and charming but there was something about him that I found frightening.
He pointed at a small window. “I have watched you through this. You are quite an attractive female.”
When he went to touch me, I pulled back. “No, my love,” he said as he cupped my breast. “You are lovely.”
I’d have really gone for him then but I was restrained by the chains.
He was nodding his approval and still looking at me. “This one,” he said turning to the Handlers. “Those...” He indicated some other wenches. “Those will be for palace guests. But this wench here, she will be for the sultan but only after I have her!”
CHAPTER 23
I was taken to the special apartments, reserved for agents and representatives of important patrons. They had subdued me. Four Handlers accompanied me, chained as I was. No one spoke to me.
This Sabba didn’t speak either, other than to give a command or two to the Handlers. Mostly he motioned to them, indicating his wishes. Then, glancing back toward me every now and then, he’d smile. I found his smile menacing.
At last we came to the rooms. Two Handlers opened the great doors and pushed me inside. Sabba waited patiently. He tipped the Handlers and clapped. More Handlers appeared—these were his own servants dressed in exotic apparel.
“Prepare the drinks and do it quickly.”
Drinks? I imagined I’d be drugged. As it was, my thinking was fuzzy—how much more were they going to give me, enough to make me compliant no doubt.
“Over here, please.” I was surprised to be taken over to a sofa, quite an exotic looking sofa it was, too. “You will rest here and I will give you some refreshment.”
“I’d rather not.”
He looked surprised at that and then smiled. “I heard you were feisty. I like that in a woman and find it irresistible in a vampire.” He pulled his shirt collar down. “Evidence of my obsession.”
He had many bite marks on his neck. “Yes, and other places, too.” He winked. “I don’t know what it is, but the allure of you creatures is fascinating.”
I turned for I heard music from somewhere. He said they were musicians.
He explained they always travelled with him to make encounters as pleasant as possible. “I want to see how it will be because in the last analysis, this is all for the Sultan you see. And I want him to be as pleased as he expects to be.”
A servant arrived with my drink. Sabba assured me it was blood. “It does have something else to relax you.”
I thought of Laudanum which I was used to, but I doubted it was that. I wondered if arguing would help. I knew it was fruitless so I didn’t bother. Besides, I thought, I am tough.
He poured my drink for me. “As for me, I will have something else, but I wish you to take this now.” He held it to my lips as I was still shackled. I suspected I would be
until I was more willing.
“Sip it slowly. You will like it, I promise you.”
I tasted it and found it was not unpleasant. There was something aside from the blood, something sweet and exotic tasting.
He asked me to relax. Then he smiled. “How can you possibly obey when you are so restrained? Unchain her at once.”
Didn’t he realize he was taking a chance? The fact that I knew I could easily overpower him thrilled me. Unchained at last, I moved—only a step toward the sofa. But I found I could not sit. I was immobile! The more I tried to move, the more I found I could not.
“Relax, it is the potion. You cannot fight it...”
I did try. Then realizing it was impossible, I gave up. He helped me to sit. “There,” he said. “Let us be comfortable, first.”
He began speaking. He spoke about who he was, telling me he was named for some wise man in Turkey. “In the distant past of ancient Turkey,” he said.
Next he began to extol the virtues of the sultan. “Ali Bey is sultan of all Turkey and its possessions. The Ottoman Empire reaches across the world.”
He explained when the sultans first became aware of vampires. “It was in medieval times—they discovered them in their march into Romania. They were wild, strange beasts. Not something to love or try to tame...still.” He smiled. “There is about your kind something so amazing and enticing. I must apologize if I sound a little overly anxious...”
He was eating some figs. In between, he spoke. “This is all about you going to serve the sultan.” He paused then. “You must wonder what your duties will be...the sultan is not an evil man, he is if anything, young and foolish... he must be guided by others, by advisors like myself.” He smiled. “That is what I do. I served first his father... may he rest in peace...and now I serve his son, Prince Ali who he has many wives...human wives.”
There was stress on the word ‘human’. “He has had a vampire or two...that is because of my influence. He is quite enthralled. There are special parties...fetes...it is most amazing, you will see.”
As he spoke, I found I was barely able to hear him. My senses I realized, were fading one by one. I am certain I lost consciousness for the next thing I recall is being moved, not by guards but by him. I looked down to see my naked body.
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