Chapter 75

I violently shake my head, my entire body trembling in fear. “No! I don’t want to hurt anyone else.” I argue.

Mortem notices Maric’s hesitation and growls, displeased that he would allow my feelings to cloud the command of his king. He glanced me a brief sympathetic look before bowing to his sire and blurring from the room. I forced myself onto my feet using the chair, my body heavy and exhausted. I had never felt so fatigued, so hungry and defeated all at the same time.

I opened my mouth to speak once I had successfully managed to stand for a few seconds unaided, my glare focusing on the creature who destroyed me. Yet, no words never left my lips, a sharp pain tore through my chest, feeling a though I was being torn apart from the inside. I cried, stumbling a few steps before collapsing all together, quivering in an indescribable agony.

“I warned you not to disobey my commands Sanctus.” Mortem chuckled dryly, “I warned you that I will not stand for anything less than complete submission. Did you think I had changed my mind?”

I tried to speak, to protest, though all that left my clenched jaw were muffled cries and whimpers. How could he do this? I only said that I didn’t want to hurt anyone, that I wouldn’t take another life! How was that so bad? Why did that mean I had disobeyed him?

He kelt down beside me, pushing the hair from my face as the agony only increased in intensity, causing my head to slam back as a petrified scream rippled through me, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“I will not allow any kind of defiance; you will not speak up against any decision that I make. You are mine little one. That will not change.” He laughed, the pain increasing again making my throat raw from the endless scream that wrecked me. “You will belong to me for the entirety of your immortal life.”

“Make it stop.” i cry, clutching his arms.

He smiles down at me, his eyes crazed, “Say you will feed again, and i will make it stop.”

I shake my head, i can’t hurt anyone else. I won’t.

I killed Derrick. I have done enough. I have caused enough pain.

“Say it.” He growls, “Or the pain will never stop.”

I scream when another wave of agony rips through my chest, i couldn’t breathe, i couldn’t think. I couldn’t defy him, not if this was the outcome of it.

I didn’t have the strength to fight back, not now, maybe not ever. My life changed the moment these creatures attacked my home and slaughtered my family. I knew things would never be the same again after that first night, but i never imagined that this would become my life.

I never imagined i would become the very thing that i hated most.

Mortem lifts me from the ground and places me on the table, hovering over me as i scream, the entire room shaking. It was my power; we both knew it. It was trying to protect me. But it could not, not against our master.

We can’t hurt him. Not even by accident. The sire bond between us would never allow it, and even my dark magic had no choice but to obey.

I was trapped, alone, scared and in pain. My only choice now is to obey, but can i bring myself to do it? Can i hurt another just to save myself?

“I’ll feed.” I scream out, unable to hide my fear any longer.

The pain was too much to bear, it was all too much.

The pain stops, just as suddenly as it had started, and i gasp, half in relief, half in fear. Is it really that easy?

Will he really take care of me if i just obey him?

I cannot keep fighting him, it hurts too much, and i have never been very good with pain. Not since i was much, much younger.

“Good girl.” He praises, helping me to sit up. “All you have to do is obey me, Sanctus, and your life here could be so much better.”

Maric enters the room just as i open my mouth to speak, silencing me as he ushers a woman into the room, one who is scarcely dressed in a silk slip. I can see her breasts and nipples through the fabric of it. I can also see the vast number of bite marks littering most of her skin. This won’t be the first time she has been fed on. It will not even be the hundredth time.

Maric shoves her forward, “Go and please your new master, Lucy.”

Lucy. At least she gets to have a name. I have known some of the lesser attractive slaves being stripped of everything, including who they were before.

But Lucy was beautiful, with high cheek bones and plump lips. She had green eyes, the colour of leaves in the spring, and hair the same shade as the sun. She was live a breath of fresh air in the middle of summer, and she smelled just as sweet.

She walks towards Mortem, her head lowered and her heart pounding. “Please use me as you wish master.” She says to him in a voice so soft i can barely hear her.

Mortem kicks her in the hip, knocking her into the ground, “Not me, you fool, your master is Sanctus.”

I jump down from the table and kneel beside her, gently helping her to sit up, even when she flinches from my touch. Some humans enjoy being food for these creatures. But Lucy clearly does not.

“its ok, I'm not going to hurt you.” i say, trying to keep my composure.

I can smell her blood, and it’s driving me insane, my fangs are itching to pierce her skin and drink her dry. But i cannot.

She is innocent. She doesn’t deserve this.

“You will hurt her, little vamp.” Mortem says cruelly, “Or i will hurt you.”

I stare into the girl's eyes, both of us too afraid to move.

“Feed from her, now.” He orders, shoving me towards her.

I have to do it. I have to feed from her.

Maybe if i don’t take too much it’ll be ok, maybe this time i will be able to concentrate and control myself.

I must do this, but i must keep myself steady, i must keep my head from sinking into the redness of her blood.

I take her wrist as gently as i can, “This is going to hurt, but i will try and be gentle.” She nods, smiling at me sadly.

She knows that there is a chance i will not be able to stop, we both do. She may die, and if she does, i will never forgive myself. But i will live on, she may not.

How can i go on like this? I have always hated causing pain to others, but now to survive i must. How is that fair?

How is any of this fair?