Chapter 70 Seventy

Chapter 70 Seventy
I prayed for it to stop, my cries filling the dungeon around me.

Why? Why had Silas done this?

He knew that I was loyal, that I would do as he asked, he didn’t need to brand me! After what seemed like an eternity the mortal man pulled the iron away from my collar bone, taking a portion of my scorched flesh with him.

I dropped to my knees when the vampires released their deadly grasp, unable to hold my own weight. I stared down at the fresh wound, wondering what I could have done to deserve this, why my life had taken this course.

Silas knelt before me; his eyes somewhat softer than they were before. “Now no one can take you from me.”

I scowled up at the prince, realising that he had done it so he could claim me, so that no one in the vampire community could rightfully take me from him. It didn’t matter than Elizabeth Phantomhive had my father, now that I had been marked, she had no claim to me; only he did.

“Don’t look at me like that Fraulien, this will benefit us both.” He argued, pretending that he cared how I felt. But we both know he didn’t.

I scoffed, shaking my head in annoyance and disgust. “It will benefit you and only you. Do not pretend this was for me.”

One of the vampire guards raised his hand to strike me once more, though this time Vincent caught his wrist. “I will take your mark also.” Said the Phantomhive as the vampire guard growled.

“You would denounce your claim to the Phantomhive name and become my servant?” Silas asked, a wicked smile appearing in the corners of his features.

Vincent nodded, holding out his right hand. “Yes. I will take your mark and denounce my family name.”

“Very well.” Was all that the prince said as the mortal man once again heated the iron, my stomach unable to watch it happen to my friend as I closed my eyes.

I heard a loud grunt through gritted teeth as the familiar smell of flesh burning assaulted my ears. Had he really done it?

Why would Vincent denounce his standing in the world for Silas?

Did he really think he would be tret fairly?

He was a fool if he thought for one moment that the prince would accept him as anything other than a traitor.

“And it is done, you are no longer a Phantomhive. You are of the Bancroft line now.” Silas announced, masking something within his voice, something I didn’t recognise, though I knew it wasn’t anger. “You will remain here for now, until I find something more suitable.”

Vincent nodded, moving to sit on the edge of the bed as Silas turned his attention back towards me, something which I had been dreading.

I lowered my eyes to the stone floor when his gaze locked onto my trembling form, not knowing what he would force me to endure next, my heart racing within my chest. He lifted me from where I knelt with ease, quickly removing me from the cell before I even had a chance to utter goodbye to Vincent.

We were both silent as he carried me back through the castle, back towards the elegantly decorated cell in which I would remain until I was needed. Once there, Silas placed me onto the soft bed, looking down at me as though I should thank him for what he had done.

My mind pushed his away, I didn’t want him to know what I was feeling, and I certainly didn’t want him to hear my thoughts of him right now. That would only cause me more pain.

He had been so nice in the early days, well as nice as a vampire could be to a lesser being. I didn’t know what exactly had changed, but I didn’t like it, I didn’t want to be his slave, I didn’t want to be anyone's slave. I wanted freedom.

He tilted his head to the side, and I knew he had heard my inner most thoughts, realising that my mind barrier was much weaker than I had expected. I had used up every ounce of strength in my body, and now; he knew that I wanted to escape, that I would try the first chance that I got.

“If you attempt to escape, it will not just be you who suffers the consequence. Every time you disobey me, your dear friend Vincent will pay for your insolence.” Growled the Prince as he moved to sit beside me on the bed, his voice hardening as he continued. “I will not be as easy on him as I am you, I need you alive if I am to achieve my goals. I do not need him.”

I gaped up at him, the tingling pain in my arm letting me know that it was beginning to heal, however slowly.

Would he really harm Vincent if I disobeyed? Was he that heartless?

That is cruel.

I nodded mutely because I had no other choice but to agree, positive that my words would betray me should I attempt to speak.

I knew that if I angered him now, he would only prove to me how serious he was. I couldn’t be responsible for someone else’s death; Blanche and my mother had already died either for or because of me.

I would not let that happen to the vampire who rescued me, he didn’t have to become involved, he didn’t have to risk himself, but he did. He risked EVERYTHING to save a witch. Someone as replaceable as a broken plate.

Witches were nothing but curatorial for the undead beings, they ensured that our species bread well so that they could continue to control each generation. They didn’t need our permission; we were nothing but objects. He owned me, and that was something that would never change, my burning collar bone a reminder of how little control I had over my life.

Yes, Silas needed me right now, but when that changed, I would be pushed aside, locked up somewhere where I would rot, or worse; he would kill me.