Chapter III

There was a quiet, almost silent knock on Savannah’s door. She opened her eyes, and she glanced at the clock on her bedside table. The hands pointed to ten-thirty p.m. She sighed, wishing she could feel the warmth of the sun on her face. Savannah had been trained to awake during the hours of nighttime so that she could keep the company of the vampire master who owned her. She hadn’t seen daylight in quite a long time.

Savannah stretched, never recalling a time that she’d slept so soundly. Another knock floated into the room. She stood and shuffled to her bedroom door. Rubbing her eyes, she pulled it open.

Erik stood before her, looking as beautiful as ever. Clad in a dark blue dress shirt and dark pants, he looked darker, more mysterious. Savannah gaped at him, unable to withhold her astonishment. Not only was he standing before her appearing immaculate and masculine, but he stood before her while she’d just gotten out of bed. Erik seemed just as surprised as she; he gazed at her, a surprised look plastered upon his face. She looked up at him, and embarrassment colored her cheeks.

“Did I wake you?” he asked.

Savannah couldn’t trust herself to speak. She knew she looked unpresentable with her tousled hair, rumpled night clothes, and sour breath.

Instead of replying, she opened the door all the way and stepped aside to let him in. Savannah hurried to her bathroom, where she furiously brushed her teeth until her mouth burned with mint. She ripped a brush through her hair and entered her bedroom again. Erik waited silently in the middle of her room.

“Forgive me, Savannah. I should have known that you were sleeping.”

“There’s no need to apologize.” Savannah sighed at him. “Is there anything specific that you needed? Did you have an errand for me to do?”

Erik was puzzled. “Don’t you remember? I said that we’d do something this week, just the two of us.” Innocence, he reminded himself. This woman was the symbol of innocence. Erik chided himself to be careful. He didn’t want her thinking he was a monster who wanted to take advantage of her.

Savannah nibbled her bottom lip. She hadn’t thought he’d been serious. “What did you have in mind?”

Erik shrugged, the movement fluid and graceful. The dark blue shirt he wore whispered against his skin, and Savannah shivered as though she could feel it. “I was going to leave that up to you.”

“May I shower and get dressed first? I must think about what we should do.”

He nodded. “Take your time. I’ll be downstairs. When you come out of your room, go left, take another left, and then make a right. It will lead you to the grand staircase.”

Erik stepped closer to her and ran his slender fingers across her birthmark. Her lips trembled slightly at his electrifying touch, and his knuckles brushed their path down her cheek. Savannah’s heart pounded within her ribcage, threatening to overload with the enticing touch that consumed her. She knew he could hear it. One long, tapered finger traced the line of Savannah’s jaw, and his intent, almost heated, gaze fluttered to her own. A slight ring of maroon pulsed around his pupils.

“I’ll be waiting, little one.” Without another word, Erik pulled his enchanting spell away and swept from her room.

Savannah showered quickly, dried her hair, and picked an outfit from the new assortment of clothes in her closet. While rummaging through her sink’s drawers, she came across an array of expensive makeup kits and beauty packages.

With butterflies in her stomach, Savannah applied the prettiest items she could find, including a concealer that did an adequate job of covering up her birthmark. It didn’t matter what Erik thought; she was hideous, and the makeup had at least brought the revolting sight down a couple of notches.

Fluffing her hair one last time, Savannah ran to her door and threw it open. She prepared to run out but regained her composure once more. Savannah didn’t want to look more juvenile and young than she already was compared to him, and running down the hallway and toward the stairs like a child on Christmas morning would only do just that. So, as slowly-and seemingly normal-as she possibly could, Savannah followed the directions her master had told her to go.

Sure enough, she found herself at the very head of the staircase, and she spotted Erik at the window, gazing outward with his hands behind his back. She bit her lip nervously, unsure if he would approve of her attire or not. Erik sensed her presence immediately and spun around, gazing up at her with surefire knowledge in his eyes. She looked beautiful, even at such a distance. Even better, he could hear the frantic palpitating of her heart, which revealed that she was just as mesmerized by him as he was with her.

“Savannah,” he murmured, her name sending tingles along his lips.

She was the startling image of her, yet almost more beautiful than she had been. He ached just looking at Savannah. He ached knowing that Savannah was so close, so like her, yet, at the same time, untouchable. Dammit. Why had he even purchased Savannah? To torture himself with the notion that he could never have a second chance, that this woman in front of him would never accept a monster like himself? His awe toward her turned to hatred at himself. He was a fool.

The little fairy in front of him stopped just barely five feet away, and her sweet scent rolled like clouds toward him. It tantalized his nostrils, his tongue, and suddenly he was hungry. So damn hungry. Erik swiped the thought away instantly.

Savannah could see the struggle on his face, but she knew it was neither her place nor her business to question him about it. “Hi,” she greeted him. Savannah knew not if she should bow, so instead inclined her head downward.

His gentle fingers brought her chin upwards once more. “That is not necessary,” he whispered. “So eager to please.”

Savannah blushed, and Erik noticed that her skin tone was almost three shades lighter than normal. His eyes narrowed, and Erik moved closer, inched forward until he could feel her shaky breath on his neck. Savannah attempted to shy away from him, unable to think with him that close, but his cold, sizable hand lashed out and closed over her jaw. Savannah gasped, her fear unleashed. Was he going to do it now? Was he going to bite her now?

As he held her face in place, Erik ran a fingertip along her birthmark, and when he drew it away, a streak of makeup was left on his skin. Silently, he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, smearing the mixture as his anger ignited.

Savannah felt a sinking feeling low in her belly. He’d discovered the thick layer of makeup she’d applied to her skin, and she knew she’d be punished. She’d disobeyed him; she’d been told to like her birthmark, to not hide it anymore, and yet she’d ignored his order. That was rule number one in the Selection Training Area: obey your master, even if it meant being humiliated, being broken of their innocence, or even being killed.

Erik curled his lips back, baring his long, burning canines. Savannah’s eyes fixated upon them, her pupils contracting in fear as she attempted to break free. Erik refused, his anger so strong he wanted to bite her. To make her pay for being so foolish. He’d ordered her to love her birthmark, to be proud of it, and what did she do? Try to cover it up with a thick layer of synthetic material?

Savannah gripped his wrist. “Master, please don’t hurt me. I’m sorry.”

His anger simmered as he watched her tiny, helpless figure fight unsuccessfully against his hold. Like a butterfly with a broken wing. Erik released her slowly, but his gaze remained piercing and sharp as ever. Savannah inched back a step. Two.

Erik’s fangs retracted, but his furious, threatening demeanor hadn’t changed. “Wash it off,” he ordered quietly. Erik pointed to the bathroom. “Now.”

Throwing a frightened glance behind her shoulder, Savannah hurried away. Erik sighed, his shoulders sagging so much he looked the mirror effigy of an aged man. This was his punishment, not Savannah’s. It was his punishment for what he’d done. Savannah would have to suffer because he’d done something wrong. She thought him a blessing, just as all his other naïve housekeepers did. Just because he’d bought them from an auction house. But he wasn’t a savior. He was a monster, a failure. Just an empty, loveless shell of a failure.

Erik slid onto the marble floor with his back to the wall. He dug his hands through his blond hair, his heart burning with guilt and hatred. “Aubrey,” he murmured. “Forgive me.”

OOOO

Tears mottled Savannah’s cheeks as she glared at herself within the bathroom mirror. Already she’d upset the one good soul who cared for her, and the cause was the horrid birthmark on the side of her face. She was wretched, just like all of her roommates said she’d be. The verbal abuse hadn’t been abuse at all-it was simply truth.

The last of the makeup swirled down the sink drain, and Savannah watched it leave with sadness. Her master liked her the way she was, even when she didn’t. Why had he picked her, of all people? There were dozens of beautiful, useful, self-confident women he’d left behind in the Selection, and he’d only chosen her. Was it out of sympathy?

If it was out of sympathy, then why did he gaze at her with such longing? He looked so sad, even from the moment he’d entered the Selection Chamber. He looked lonely, just like she was. Didn’t he have a Mate? Surely a vampire as powerful and influential and caring as him would have a partner with whom he could share a live together. But she hadn’t seen a woman, not even a lover.

But he always caressed her like a lover. He touched her in subtle, intimate ways that made her spine turn to melted butter. Erik touched her like a lover would, and he always made sure he had a response. She’d seen it in his eyes. Did he do that with all of his servants? Or was it just her inexperienced, eager imagination playing games with her?

Savannah shook her head. Her mind spun at her idiocy. Of course he didn’t want her. He’d bought her to give her a warm place to stay, to let her work for him as his servant. Master Erik didn’t want anything to do with her except show his hospitality. Resolutely, Savannah dried her hands on the towel and opened the door to the bathroom.

She found Erik huddled against a wall with his head bowed and his fingers through his hair. Savannah froze at the sight. It wasn’t wise to disturb a vampire while he mulled over his thoughts, so, as silently as she could, Savannah headed for the stairs.

Erik’s arm wrapped around her slim waist in a gentle hook. “Stay,” he said quietly.

“Master, I-”

His eyes flashed with irritation. “What have I told you about calling me master?”

Savannah shook her head. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t feel comfortable pretending that I have a higher status that I’m actually worth. You bought me as your slave, and therefore, I am to call you Master. That is what I’ve been taught.”

“And as your master, I order you to never call me by that name. It is ridiculous that people are sold as ‘slaves’ anyway. Humans and vampires are part of a chain, not a business corporation.” Erik released her. “You are foolish, Savannah Brooks.”

Her green eyes glittered softly with tears. “I know. I’m foolish and ugly, and I’m not worth more than two hundred dollars.”

The vision of Aubrey flashed before his eyes, and Erik snatched Savannah up into his arms for a devouring kiss. He felt her stiffen and gasp within his embrace, but he refused to let go. With a groan, Erik licked her bottom lip gently, and when she gasped again, he swept his tongue into her mouth. He would make her see that she was beautiful, that she was worth more than any amount of currency in the universe.

Her taste was as he knew it would be-sweet and just a little bit wild. He wanted to drown in it, to get drunk in her scent and her taste. Erik crushed her tighter against him, so that he could feel every supple inch of her tiny body against his hungry frame. He could feel Savannah gripping his shirt, could hear her muddled thoughts about how what he was doing was wrong. He didn’t care.

With swift expertise, Erik slid one of his hands into Savannah’s silky hair and tilted her head back, his tongue sweeping along every corner of her warm, delicious mouth. He broke away, their lips parting with a soft smack, and Erik let his lips find her fluttering pulse. Hungrily, he pressed the edge of his teeth against her, and Savannah, the innocent woman who couldn’t have been more traumatized, sank into his chest.

“Savannah,” he whispered against her skin, knowing she couldn’t hear him, “you’re worth more than anything that could be of value.” Tears leaked from his eyes. Erik pulled away to gaze at Savannah. She’d passed out, and she slept peacefully. “Aubrey,” he puled, “you’ve come back to me.”

Gathering her up into his chest, Erik carried Savannah back into her room. Erik laid her down upon her bed and slipped into her mind, erasing the memory that had just occurred. “I’m never letting you go,” he promised. His fingertip stroked the edge of her birthmark, and Erik flitted away.