“Lauren,” he whispered, reaching out and stopping just short of touching her. Horror swept over him, but he once never would have questioned it and it was clear that his reaction bothered her more than the punishment itself. “I’m so sorry.”
“It is what it is,” she said, letting her hair fall back. “What matters is that you’re here now, and just because you can’t work doesn’t mean you can get lax. I expect you to be on model behavior.”
“Yes,” he murmured. “Of course.”
She paused, studying him in silence for so long he felt like squirming. “You stink of Chrysalus,” she remarked finally. “I’d forgotten what a sickly sweet smell that was.”
Arden flinched. “Sorry?”
She gave him a faint smile and turned toward the door. “You should rest. I expect that the Master will wish to question you soon if he hasn’t already.”
He hadn’t, which made Arden all the warier of his intentions. “Lauren, wait.”
She stopped and looked at him with an impatient frown. “Yes?”
“The ghoul who came with me. Where is he?” He knew asking was a risk in itself, but Lauren wasn’t a snitch. He was sure she’d tell Eric if he had plans of escaping, but she didn’t want to ruffle his feathers anymore than Arden did.
Her frown deepened. “Where do you think?”
Arden gulped. So the laboratory it was, then. He had spent the better part of his life there, but he knew as well as anyone that it was a glorified torture chamber. Eric experimented on the ghouls he turned if he couldn’t use them for anything else, and whatever he had planned for Vox was likely far worse than the casual escapee.
There was no mistaking the suspicion in Lauren’s gaze. “I don’t know what happened when you were taken, and it isn’t my business to know,” she said sternly. “But it would be best for you to detach yourself from anything that happened during those months. This is your home.”
“Yes,” Arden said quietly. “This is my home.”
Chapter 19
Arden
Four days went by without so much as a word from Eric, and Arden knew his every move was being watched despite the fact that he’d spent most of those days alone. Eric had cameras everywhere. He took pride in his powers of observation. In knowing the enemy better than he knew himself.
Now, Arden had come to realize, he was an extension of the enemy. An inconvenient pawn who’d been compromised. One who had to be managed carefully.
At one point, knowing that his utility to Eric had been diminished would have made him long for death. In a way, it did, but he couldn’t give up without doing everything he could to ensure that Vox had a future.
When Eric finally called for him, he knew it was time. He’d had nothing but time to think about what to do next. About the careful balance he might unsettle with any action he took. If he didn’t do something now, he wouldn’t have a say in what happened at all.
He’d come to the conclusion that any attempt he made to convince Eric that Vox didn’t matter would backfire. The vampire had always been able to see through him. There was no use in lying to Eric. It simply couldn’t be done. Begging, however… that presented an opportunity and as the vampire had yet to question him about the Brotherhood, Arden knew he had some leverage to use.
He just had to be careful not to seem like he was using it.
Eric had called him to his bedroom, an honor that once would have filled him with the hope that his Master had finally chosen to accept another form of devotion. The kind Arden had longed so fiercely to offer him. After seeing Eric kiss the Prince, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was, after all, the slightest chance.
When he opened the door and realized that Eric was not alone, his heart sank. Prince Lavien was there, his azure hair pulled back over his long dressing robes. He sat on the edge of Eric’s bed, an infuriatingly intimate position, considering that the vampire never even let his lovers sleep in it.
“Good, you’re here,” Eric said casually. He was standing on the other side of the room, looking at something on his desk. “Close the door.”
Arden obeyed, stopping a safe distance away. “Prince Lavien,” he said, bowing respectfully even though he wanted to tear the man’s throat out, rescuer or not.
“We meet again,” Lavien said, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Always a pleasure, Puppet.”
Arden bristled at the use of the term by anyone other than Eric, even if it was the truth. He was Eric’s Puppet and he’d once been proud for the world to know it. What had changed?
“Have a seat, Arden,” Eric ordered. It was rare for him to use the chimera’s name, but his pleasant tone kept Arden from assuming he was in trouble. Then again, how much more trouble could he end up in?
Arden obeyed, but he sat as far away from the elf as possible. The Prince smiled. Evidently, it hadn’t escaped his notice.
“I think your boy is afraid of me, Eric.”
The vampire glanced over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “That would be the first trace of fear he’s shown in his life.”
His defense filled Arden with pride, even if it wasn’t deserved. There was plenty he had come to fear, perhaps not on behalf of his own life, but that only made the terror greater. “How may I serve you, Master?”
Eric’s gaze softened. “I’ve been occupied since your return, but there is still the matter of your debriefing,” he answered. “I’ve been debating with myself over how best to handle this, considering the delicate nature of the information you were exposed to, and Lavien was kind enough to offer me a solution.”
Arden looked between the elf and vampire in confusion. “I don’t understand, Master. If there’s anything you wish to know, I will tell you.”
“I’m sure you would try,” Eric murmured. “But the fact is, I can no longer trust your judgment.”
His words cut deep and he seemed to know it. His tone was softer as he added, “I know that my Puppet would never betray me, but the fact remains that you are not what was taken from me. You’ve been reverted to a far more primal state, with impulses I tried to spare you from. I can’t trust that the enemy hasn’t used that nature against you, through no fault of your own.”
It was a far more merciful response than he had the right to expect, but Arden was heartbroken all the same. To hear Eric admit out loud that he didn’t trust him was devastation in its truest form. He might as well have told him he was useless. Trash.
“Don’t worry, love,” Lavien purred. “I know you want to be good for your Master, and I’m going to help.”
“What are you talking about?” Arden asked, snapping in spite of himself.
“Lavien possesses a unique gift,” said Eric, walking over to join them. He sat on the edge of the bed and took Arden’s hand in his. Something about the gentle touch put the chimera on edge, even though he craved it. “A form of clairvoyance that is extracted from blood.”
Arden looked over at the Prince, remembering the blood he’d drawn and tasted that night. Now he knew what it was truly about. Lavien had known who he was all along. He’d simply been gathering intelligence.
The Prince gave him a knowing smile. “You’re a smart lad. I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now. I had to know how many of you there were before I took action.”
Arden swallowed the bile in his throat that rose at the realization that he was the one who’d given Lavien the information he needed to kill Harding. He’d scarcely had a moment to come to terms with the guilt before Eric’s hand moved to his shoulder.
“I don’t wish to have you interrogated like some common prisoner,” Eric said in a strained voice that betrayed the fact that he still had some affection for his fallen ward. “I would rather you give it freely.”
“Do I have to sleep with him?” Arden asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The Prince’s eyes flashed with irritation, but he kept his mouth shut. Arden had lusted after him once, but now, he was nothing more than a nuisance.
“That won’t be necessary,” Eric answered. “His power doesn’t require sexual contact, and you won’t be transferring Chrysalus, just your memories. All you have to do is let him drink from you.”
Arden nodded. It was all the answer he needed to give. Lavien came up behind him, resting his hands on Arden’s shoulders. He swept the short hairs away from the young man’s neck and leaned down, his breath cool on Arden’s skin. The Prince’s teeth sunk in deep, but their dullness compared to a vampire’s taught Arden firsthand why they preferred to use other implements. He really must have gotten under the Prince’s skin if he was resorting to such petty revenge.
Arden wouldn’t give him the pleasure of reacting. He’d known far worse pain. He closed his eyes as the Prince fed from him and felt the surge of energy leave him. The Chrysalus seemed to resist within him, even though it was a different form of power the elf was drawing.
By the time he’d finished, Arden was lightheaded. He’d forgotten what it was like to be fed from. The pain was pleasurable in the right hands, but the wrong ones merely left him feeling empty. Used.
“Did you get enough?” Eric asked.
The Prince didn’t respond at first. When Arden turned around, he looked dazed. His clear eyes were glazed over, and he didn’t seem quite steady enough to remain upright on his own. When Eric reached out to touch his arm, he jolted.
“Oh. I’m sorry,” he gasped, dabbing a droplet of blood off his lips with the sleeve of his robe.
“What’s wrong?” Eric asked, frowning.
“It’s nothing,” the Prince insisted, looking sideways at Arden. Something in his eyes made the chimera think he was lying, but he didn’t dare call out royalty in front of his Master.
“Well?” Eric demanded, a bit impatiently.
“Yes,” Lavien answered. “I got everything. They’re underground, between the Vale and the portal to Praya.” His eyes locked on Eric. “There is a traitor among them.”
“Who?” the vampire demanded.
Arden’s pulse quickened. Leopold. He knew that he would have to divulge the powerful elf’s identity sooner or later, and it was likely that Dusk and Leo were already acting as if his identity was compromised, but still. Guilt was something he’d never experienced as a vampire, and now, he felt so much of it for so many reasons. It was crushing.
“Sir Leopold,” Lavien answered in an icy tone. “My uncle’s favorite.”
Eric smirked. “Well, that’s a surprise. But it makes our task even easier, doesn’t it?”
Arden listened, struggling to keep up. Eric and Lavien were planning something? The fact that they were speaking so plainly in front of him either meant they trusted him, or they regarded him as no more of a threat than the furniture. He was just as likely to escape again.
“The emperor is a fool,” Lavien muttered. “He’s given Leopold even more power as he ages. The elders counseled him against it, and he wouldn’t listen. Once the truth is revealed, he will be forced to cede the throne or die clutching it.”
“And you, my love, will be the natural successor,” Eric said, caressing the elf’s cheek. The jealousy in Arden’s gut roared to life, but he restrained himself. So that was Eric’s game. Lavien was making a bid for the Emperor’s chair and he was taking advantage of the chance to forge a new alliance that would consolidate even more power to Ark. In a way, Arden was relieved to know that Lavien, of all people, was not simply his Master’s romantic exception. It burned less to know that the elf was just another puppet to him, if a powerful one, and the way Lavien melted at his touch left no room to doubt that he had fallen for the Master Vampire as hard as everyone else did.
“What about him?” Eric asked, looking down at Arden. The chimera’s heart broke again when he realized what his Master was asking.
“He is loyal,” Lavien said reluctantly. “His feelings for the fae are conflicted. He grew attached, and he resents me dearly for killing the human grunt.” He sneered, licking the blood off his fingertips. “But his devotion to you remains unshaken. He is, however, hoping that you will allow him to keep a pet of his own.”
Arden felt a bolt of terror shoot down his spine. So Lavien was aware of the feelings for Vox that even he had only come to terms with recently. He shouldn’t have been surprised, and yet, he’d hoped…
“The ghoul?” Eric asked in disbelief.
Arden couldn’t help but be offended on Vox’s behalf. Then again, it was the same disbelief he would have had months earlier. “Please,” he whispered, knowing that now was his only chance to plead. “I know that he can be reasoned with. He can be of use to you. I’ll make sure of it.”
Eric watched him curiously, silent for long enough that Arden had reason to fear the very worst. When Eric finally did speak, he sounded tired and dismayed. “I knew your nature would present its quirks if you were ever allowed to awaken fully as a chimera, but I never expected you’d fall for a ghoul. You know what he looks like under that mask, don’t you?” he taunted.
Arden winced. He wasn’t used to being mocked by anyone other than Elan, and this made his teasing feel good-natured.
“Careful, Eric. You’re upsetting him,” Lavien said, even though his melodic voice betrayed his amusement.
Eric snorted. “We’ll see how well you behave yourself. Now run along.”
“He can stay if he wants,” Lavien purred, running his hand down Eric’s chest as his eyes flashed in challenge. “He is a chimera. I’m sure he’d enjoy watching.”
Eric grunted, taking the elf’s wrist in his hand. “Goodnight, Arden,” he said pointedly, to Arden’s relief.
He turned around and left before he could see anything else. He was already nauseous.
Chapter 20
Arden
Arden was not immune to the irony that he had more freedom now than he had before he was taken. The fact that he was allowed to roam freely despite Eric having less reason to trust him was a sobering reminder of just how much the vampire must have feared him before.
Dusk had warned him, and he’d refused to believe that Eric was afraid of anything, let alone his own creation.
He’d made several unsuccessful attempts to get back into the laboratory, but the only place he’d once been able to walk freely was now the only one off limits to him. At least he knew that Vox would remain alive as long as Eric could use him as a carrot on a string.
The boredom was the kind of torture he had expected when Eric learned the truth of his time with the Brotherhood. Then again, his treatment of Arden ever since Lavien’s bite had made it clear that he’d expected much worse.
How he could even think Arden would betray him was beyond his ability to understand. Arden’s feelings might have grown more complicated, but he lived for Eric and he always had. No matter how many others his heart had expanded to allow inside, that had never changed.
He had to talk to someone. It was another hallmark of his chimera nature coming out, and as much as he resented it, he couldn’t exorcise himself of it. The only person he could think to approach was Lauren, but she was nowhere to be found.
“There you are.”
Startled that she had found him first, Arden turned around to face Lauren, but his smile died when he saw the look on her face. “Hey. I was looking for you.”
“Well, I’ve been looking for you,” she said, glancing down the hall. “Eric wants you.”
“Do you know what it’s about?” Something in her tone had him on edge.
She shook her head, but he got the sense that was a lie. She glanced at him and seemed to want to say more.
“Lauren, what is it?” he pleaded.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, backing away from him. “Just… go find your Master. He’s waiting.”
With that, she left and Arden was torn about obeying an order for the first time in his life. He realized in the end that there was no choice and went down the hall to Eric’s office, where he spent most of the nighttime hours.
The fact that Eric was
already standing and leaning against his desk, his arms folded and his eyes downcast in deep thought did not bode well. He looked up when Arden came in and motioned for him to take a seat.
Arden felt like he was going to the gallows as he sat down in front of the vampire. “Yes, Master?”
For a moment, Eric said nothing. When he finally spoke, his voice was grave and it filled Arden with dread. “You told me once that you lived to serve me. To be useful. Is that still the case?”
“You know it is, Master.” Arden couldn’t hide the pain in his voice. “How could you doubt it?”
Eric didn’t answer. Instead, he watched him thoughtfully for another moment and said, “There is something I need you to do for me. Something that will redeem you of your weakness.”
“Yes,” Arden said breathlessly. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it, Master. Anything to prove my loyalty to you.”
“That’s good,” said Eric. “But something tells me you won’t be as obedient once you know what it is.”
Arden was silent, afraid to argue. Eric continued, “You will be staying with Prince Lavien. From now on, you will be his ward.”
Arden stared at his Master in disbelief. His heart wasn’t willing to accept the meaning of the words his mind clearly understood. “Master…”
“Don’t,” Eric said in a hard tone. “You’re no longer useful to me as a chimera, but you would be a great treasure to our allies.”
“You could change me back,” Arden protested.
Eric snorted. “It’s about more than the blood, lad. You’ve been compromised in more ways than one. Or did you not think there was a reason I turned you before your nature could set in?”
Arden considered his words, but he didn’t want to hear them. The thought of leaving Eric again was too painful, but he knew showing that would only prove the vampire’s point. “I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely. “I know that I failed you.”
With a sigh, the vampire moved closer. He cupped Arden’s cheek in his hand and when their eyes met, his were surprisingly tender. “If you wish to redeem yourself, this is your chance. Submit yourself to Lavien as you have done with me and all will be forgiven.”
Puppet/Master (The Vale Chronicles Book 1) Page 16