Chapter 6: Blood Pet

We arrived at a renovated boarding house in the heart of the old city. The new city, built parallel to the old, was nothing but skyscrapers, businesses, and upscale merchandising commerce. The old city consisted of buildings of older more elegant architecture and neighborhoods full of beautifully restored Victorian homes. Together they, the old and the new, were a wonderful mix.

The boarding house was a rather large building with multiple levels. Three or four I think. It was clearly Victorian. The outside was a deep purple with yellow bordering the windows and front door.

We stood in front of an ornate sold oak door. Morena pushed me forward to knock. I rolled my eyes and knocked.

The door opened abruptly and without a person to do so. We walked in. The royal red carpet underneath was so soft and plush feet sunk into it. Ahead of us there were three hallways. One on either side of us and one in front of us.

The hallways, no corridors for they were much to grand, were each furnished with matching dark cherry wood tables, small ones that held crystal vases of roses. The walls were paneled on the bottom half with dark wood and papered on the top half with a pink floral pattern. Occasionally a portrait or some other work of art would grace the papered part of the wall.

I looked up to see an extraordinary crystal chandelier lit with candles and not electricity. The boarding house was impressive, but too lavish for my tastes and too big. It looked like you could get lost in these halls.

The only thing that seemed to be missing were the inhabitants. It was eerily quiet.

“Where is everyone?”

Morena shushed me.

I stayed quiet and looked to the hall in front of us. I could just make out the figure in the back, walking closer to us. It stopped walking.”

“Mistress? Mistress Amelia?” Morena asked. She sounded scared. If the witch was frightened then I was definitely in trouble. She pushed me behind her and waited for what was to come.

“Morena Claremont, my solitary witch client, you are overdue for your payment.” The voice that spoke was accented with old world charm. It was elegant and refined, English maybe. The figure came closer.

“We have a contract my sweet and you have gone and went against it. Now you’ll see what the Mistress will do to those who disobey, to those who think they can defy me without consequence.”

The Mistress of the city stepped into view. She was all frills and ruffles. She wore a rose colored dress patterned with cabbage roses. Her sleeves were long, bell shaped in the cuff and flowing with white lace, which covered her hands. The skirt of the dress flowed over her slender hips and puffed out slightly. Her bodice was modest, lacy and high collared. To put it simply she looked like an aristocrat

She came closer still, enough so that I could see her face. Her skin was like milk, her lips like roses and her eyes like sapphires. Her pale blonde hair was pulled back into a bun. She was beautiful in an ice queen sort of way.

“Three days late,” the Mistress continued, “It is going to cost you Morena.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and opened her mouth to expose her fangs. She hissed at us and then they came.

Other vampires, I assumed, came from the side corridors. There modernly dressed vampires appeared followed by a male vampire dressed in aristocratic clothing. He wore a suit in dark blue with a red neck scarf tucked into the front. He stepped past the others and came up to Morena.

“Though you are no client of mine, my wife has asked a favor of me,” he said. He, the handsome dark haired, dark eyed, vampire, was obviously the Master of the city. He took Morena by the waist and draped her over his shoulder. She squirmed and fought, but to no avail.

I attempted to go after them, but one of the three held me back.

“Morena!”

The halls emptied, the Mistress and I remained. She seemed deep in thought. Apparently she had not noticed me just yet. I stood frozen in my spot, trying to breath quietly so she wouldn’t hear me.

Finally she acknowledged me.

“You girl, who are you?” She glided closer to me, so that only a few feet remained between us. Her cold eyes flickered over me disinterestedly and then returned to gazing past me.

She sighed. “Are you deaf child?” Her voice was harsh. I cringed. “Your name?”

“I’m Rebecca,” I squeaked.

She raised a pale eyebrow. “Just Rebecca?”

“Rebecca Rowan. I’m Morena’s new familiar.”

Her head snapped in my direction. “She took a human as a familiar? That stupid girl!” She growled. “This is unacceptable. She will be punished for this also.”

“No! No! Don’t punish her! She didn’t do anything wrong.”

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” she scoffed. “Has she brainwashed you too?”

Despite the little voice screaming, ‘run!’ in my head I stepped closer. I had to get Morena out of here.

“No it’s true she hasn’t done anything wrong.” I paused and added, “Mistress Amelia. I’m not human and it’s only against coven law if I am, but I’m not.”

Interest sparked in her eyes when I mentioned I wasn’t human. “Fine,” she said with a wave of her hand. “ Punishment revoked, but she will still have to face the consequences for her first offense.”

“What are you doing to her?” I asked nervously.

Her pink lips curved up into a positively wicked smile. “Oh do not worry yourself with that. You will get her back.”

God I had to save her. How could I possibly get her away from those vampires? They’re probably hurting her.

“Let me pay for Morena,” I blurted out. It was the only thing I could think of.

“You will pay for Morena. You will pay the price. It’s your blood you know?”

I nodded. “If I pay will you let her go?”

She began to circle me. “Blood of a familiar,” she mused. “I have never tasted one before, but perhaps that is because I have never meet a semi-human familiar. I suppose I could do this one little favor.”

She stooped in front of me and trailed her hand over my cheek and across my neck in a caress. “You will pay now,” she informed. She was too close to me, her face inches away from mine, though she was a couple of inches taller.

“Let her go first.”

“As you wish.” She waved a hand and a vampire appeared. “Release my client. Her dues have been paid.”

“Yes Mistress.”

The vampire left and was just me and the Mistress of the city. She refocused her attention back to me.

“It won’t hurt,” she assured me.

She wrapped her arms around me and drew me into her. Her motions were gentle and soft.

“You smell lovely, ” she purred. I stiffened. That was not good news.

She lowered her head and felt a brief brush of lips and then a sharp prick as her fangs sunk in. I yelped, but after the quick burst of pain I felt nothing. She drank greedily, slurping and sucking away at my neck.

I could feel myself growing weaker as she drank, but I couldn’t stop her. She let out a moan and then raised her head away from my neck.

Her face was flushed and her pupils were dilated. Somehow I got the idea that blood drinking was a more intimate affair for vampires. She looked like she just had sex. I wanted to get as far away from her as possible.

“Your blood is laced with raw magic,” she said in a breathy voice. “So potent, so sweet. I have never tasted anything like it.”

“I think I’ve given enough,” I managed to get out.

“Yes I agree, but...” She trailed off and lowered her face to my neck again.

“No! Mistress,” I cried. I tried fighting my way out of her grip, but that only made her tighten her hold on me.

She nuzzled my neck with her cheek and then bit into me again. I fought harder this time, enough to interrupt her drinking. She stopped completely and then in one swift motion she cradled my head against her chest.

“What if I could offer you a life free of stress and worry,” she whispered to me. “I could give anything you want, absolutely anything. You would never have to work. You could spend your days as you pleased. Stay with me Rebecca and I’ll give you all your heart’s desires. All I want from you is your blood.” She began to stroke my hair. “Just a little blood, surely that’s worth what I’m offering?”

I pushed away from her. “No! I refuse the offer.”

“I could make you so happy.” She looked at me and her face fell like child who didn’t get what she wanted. “No, then? I will respect your decision.”

“As you should Mistress.” I turned to see Morena and regretted making that motion. It made my head hurt and my stomach churn. Blood loss will do that to you. I closed my eyes for a bit to get over the dizzy spell.

Morena walked quickly and pulled me to her side.

She thanked me quickly before talking to the Mistress again.

“Well,” Morena began. “You’ve already met my new familiar. I assume my protection covers her.”

“You have assumed wrong,” the Amelia countered. “She is no ordinary familiar. Not animal, but also not human. What she is is unclear to me. If she wants protection she’ll sign a contract and become my client. She is her own person and is able to make her own decisions. But I’m afraid my usual protection will not do. She needs something more. There is great danger for her in the future. This nameless creature will be discovered sooner or later.”

“Then what do you suggest,” Morena asked.

“She should stay with me. Full time protection for a slightly larger payment.”

That little scheming demon she’s still trying to keep me with her.

“It could be good for the both of us Morena. I could strengthen her make her in to a much more useful familiar.”

Morena stayed silent like she was actually considering it. Oh this is just ridiculous. This is my life. I get to make the major life altering decisions, not them.

I spoke up before the two of them came up with another ridiculous idea.

I gestured to Amelia. “I am not going to be her…” I paused for the lack of a proper term.

“Blood pet?” Amelia offered.

“Yes, I am not going to be her blood pet and you,” I said while pointing to Morena. “I am not your property Morena you can’t just trade me away like that. I’m not a thing. I’m a person. And… I don’t feel so good.”

The blood loss took its toll on me. I dropped in a dizzying motion to the floor, threw up and then fainted.

I dreamed in black and when I woke up there was light. My vision was a bit blurry. I squinted enough to make out a lamp to the side of me. It was then I realized that I was lying down on a bed a very large one, made of oak and covered with a thick satin blue comforter.

I looked up to find Amelia, sorry Mistress Amelia, sitting in a chair in the right hand corner of the room. I flinched in surprise when I caught sight of her. And then regretted making such a sudden movement. My head still hurt, I was dizzy and still a little nauseous.

“Oh good you are awake,” Amelia said. Her voice was nearly cheerful. I found that to be disturbing. She must be up to something. “Drink something.” She gestured to the nightstand that held the lamp I first saw. It also held a tray with three glasses and a plate of cookies.

The first glass held water, the second orange juice and the third was another type of juice. When I regarded the liquids with suspicion she spoke.

“Hydration my sweet, only hydration.”

I nodded and picked up the water. I gulped it down and then went for the orange juice. It went down nicely and helped with the dizziness and nausea. I grabbed the last glass to and drained it as quickly as I drained the others.

Her pale eyebrows rose in surprise at my eagerness. I guess I was thirsty after all.

“So,” I began. “Where’s Morena?”

“Still here and safe, if that’s what your wondering.”

I nodded. “Was I out for long?”

“A good twenty minutes.”

I groaned. That was a long time to be passed out in a den of vampires.

“And in that time Morena had managed to work out a plan of protection for you.” She smoothed out some invisible wrinkle on her dress skirt before continuing. “You will not be my blood pet. You are to be one of my clients. You will pay in blood monthly and you will agree to the terms of the contract. Before you leave you will receive a copy.”

I picked up a cookie from the plate and ate it as she went on.

“I’ll count today as your first payment since I did go a little over board. The rest of your payments are due the second Saturday of each month.”

I moved to the edge of the bed and dangled my feet over the floor. It was really quite a tall bed.

“So you’re my protection now?”

“Technically I’m your Mistress now.” I chocked on a bit of my cookie as she said that. She chuckled and rose to pat my back, hoping to help stop the choking.

“Oh don’t be so ridiculous,” she laughed. “I said that in jest. And yes I will protect you from anything pertaining to the supernatural nature.”

She sat down beside me with all the grace of a lady and crossed her legs. All this talk combined with me sitting up was making me feel sick again. I could feel all the liquids swishing around in my stomach.

“This will be a good one to explain to my dad. Guess what I have a mistress now. Isn’t that great?”

She smiled at me. “Amusing. The first offer still stands if you ever change your mind.”

“I thought I made it clear.”

Her smile broadened. “Oh you did, lovely performance by the way. I thought it made your speech all the more memorable.”

I groaned. “I’m sorry I puked all over your carpet.”

“Oh it’s quite all right. It’s my fault really. I should have stopped sooner, but you were so…”

“Yummy?” I offered.

She licked her lips in answer.

I lay back down after a wave of nausea hit me. “Jeez, how much did you take?”

“Too much,” Morena answered walking in.

“You owe me a pint of blood.” I said to Morena. “I paid for you.”

“And I thank you very much. I’ll have to take you out for lunch sometime,” Morena replied.

I studied Morena more closely. She looked well, a little pale, but seemingly unharmed. I glanced at her neck and saw two neat little holes. I brought a hand to may neck and cringed as I felt my own puncture wounds. I looked to the right of the room and saw a vanity with a mirror.

Morena and my Mistress watched as I examined the bite mark. The puncture marks were not as neat as Morena’s and the skin around it was swollen in red.

“It looks like a love bite,” Morena commented.

“Thanks,” I replied sourly.

Amelia chuckled.

I scowled at her and then at Morena. “How am I going to explain this,” I pointed to my neck. “To my dad.”

“I don’t know. Tell him your boyfriend did it.” Morena said. Her grey eyes sparkled and she tilted he head a little. “Oh that’s right you don’t have one. I remember now. Wasn’t I your first kiss?”

Amelia raised an eyebrow at this comment.

I blushed. “It was a ritualistic kiss!”

“Oh relax,” Morena said. “I’m just teasing you.”

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. A female vampire came in and handed a vanilla colored folder and a small box to Amelia. She took the folder and nodded in thanks.

“Ah finally, your contract is here. Come.” She moved to the vanity and opened the folder and spread its contents on the surface. She rummaged through a vanity drawer and produced a silver plated pen. “Here sign.”

I came over, sat in the vanity chair and read through the contract. It contained all that she told me and more. It also listed where and how her protection applied along with ways to contact her and members of her coven (Apparently a group of vampires was also called a coven).

The contract seemed reasonable and I didn’t detect any of the usual fine print the accompanied contracts. I filled out the contact information, printed my name, date of birth and gave her my home address. Then I signed.

Amelia took then pen from me and signed the line beneath my signature. Looking over the contract, she seemed satisfied. She tore the first sheet away and gave me the yellow carbon copy to me and the pink carbon copy to Morena. I gave her a look as she handed the pink copy to Morena.

“You’re a minor,” she answered. “She’ll act as your legal guardian in this agreement.”

I didn’t know Vampires were such law-abiding creatures.

I nodded and watched her pick up the small cardboard box. It held a small, but expensive looking cell phone. She handed it to me.

“For emergencies. If ever you are to contact me, you use this. Understand?”

I nodded.

“Good.” She paused and her gaze swept over both Morena and I. “I believe we are done here. You are both free to leave.”

Without any further questions I stood and followed Morena out of the door. She led us down the hall to the exit with the Mistress trailing after us.

Just as I was about to walk out the door Amelia stopped me.

“You will be prompt with your payments. You are young and I would not be happy hurting a child.”

I gulped. “I’ll be prompt,” I squeaked.

“Good girl.” She nodded and then let me through and I made my way to Morena’s car. I slide into the passenger seat and then looked at Morena. She smiled weakly and then looked back at the house. I followed her gaze.

The Mistress was still standing there. I caught her eye and waved to her. She raised her hand hesitantly and waved back. The gesture seemed awkward when she preformed it. Maybe it was too modern.

We pulled out of the drive and sped away. Amelia kept her eye on us the whole time. She wasn’t kidding when she said she would protect us.