::CHAPTER 28::

There was a split second of hesitation, but she did take a seat on the bed beside me. She didn’t say anything. All she did was brush a stray curl out of her eyes.

“Now when you say you enjoyed it, do you mean you enjoyed it or you enjoyed it because I enjoyed it?”

“There’s a difference?” she fiddled with the oversized t-shirt that she wore.

“A huge one. When you saw all of this, you said you felt what I felt. I’m wondering if you enjoyed it because you felt my emotions or if was what you felt all you?”

“I don’t know,” she shook her head, “I want to say it’s all you, but I can’t be sure. And I can’t ask why you’d do something so horrible because I felt it myself. I can see why.”

“You understand.”

In all of my years, I’d never heard those words. Despite the mask I wore that hid what I was really capable of, people still thought I could be no worse. That I’d done every bad thing possible. I hadn’t. I hadn’t come close. Even in private I’d held back for the sake of always having something not yet tried. If people knew that, they’d avoid me more than they already tried to.

No one had ever understood. They’d made excuses for me or rejected my nature, but this was a first. It was disarming. That in itself was saying a lot. People my age didn’t get shocked very easily. It seemed that Little Red was absolutely hell bent on keeping my attention in one way or another.

She had seen what I’d done first hand and she hadn’t tried to run away. Granted she wouldn’t have gotten far, but still. She hadn’t even tried. In fact, she’d come to me directly. Most would steer clear of me. Ria really was an odd little thing.

“My emotions are very low level,” I mused, “which is why yours usually leak into mine.”

“We went over that already,” she massaged her eyes, “The Pet/Master bond means that the one with the capacity for stronger emotions will leak into the other. That’s usually the immortal to the mortal.”

“Except my condition derails that,” I finished, “so it’s reversed with us.”

“So why am I getting your emotions all of a sudden?”

“The last time this happened was during our feeding. I think it’s safe to assume that this will happen when what I’m feeling is particularly strong.”

“Does that mean that what I felt is all on you?”

“We can’t determine that for sure,” I said, “It may or may not be.”

I was pretty sure it was all on me, but I didn’t want her to think that. I wanted to see what would happen if she thought she was capable of enjoying my little hobbies. It probably wasn’t very kind to toy with her mind this way, but I was curious.

Ria looked down, fingers fidgeting. She refused to look at me. I guessed she was ashamed. She – pious, sweet, virginal Ria – had found satisfaction in the depravity of a man she swore up and down that she hated. Naturally, I was as smug as ever about it. Not that I showed it. Starting a fight now would get me nowhere so I kept my face blank and my eyes void of any emotion.

Looking at her, something occurred to me. She was still here. We had talked, she told me what she had to and she knew all that I was willing to tell her. Why was she still here then? Sitting beside me as if she hadn’t seen me do something that was considered heinous and tragic from an ordinary perspective. She should have been nervous at least. Yet I didn’t feel her nervousness. Curious.

“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll do the same to you?”

“Take my heart? No. You had to go hunting for someone who spoke to your nature. I’ve been around you for this long. If I was going to be the one whose…” she paused and took a breath, “…whose heart you’d take, I wouldn’t be alive.”

“True,” I said, not mentioning that fact could change very easily one day.

“You feel hindered,” she muttered, “Trapped.”

“Excuse me?”

“I felt it when you were talking to the twins. Whenever you have to hide your real self, you feel trapped inside that self. The fake Alejo. The civilized one.”

“I never noticed,” I lied, “What else?”

“Liberated,” she replied after a beat, “You hold back so much for so long. When you – um – did what you did, you let go. You were yourself for once. No lies or pretenses. You were calm but happy. Excited but at peace. Like a child opening presents on Christmas morning but more. I’ve never felt that kind of passion and joy that you have. Not even in drama classes.”

“Perhaps you should be doing something else then. I’ve heard that actors and actresses often choose that profession to hide from themselves. In order for them to live in the minds and hearts of someone else. Face another reality. Have a different life. Perhaps that is what you have been doing, Little Red. Perhaps that is why you prefer drama to art.”

“Drama is an art,” she muttered. I could see the wheels spinning in her head.

“Yes, but it is also much different from art. The art that your sister and I partake in, I mean. That sort of art requires you to pour out what you think and feel. To express what you are. You can’t hide yourself when you create. With drama, you have to hide yourself to play the part. Otherwise you cannot truly be the character.”

“Then I guess that makes us similar you and I,” she scoffed, “Hiding ourselves in one way or another. Me in drama and you…daily.”

“Indeed,” I smiled admitting a rare truth, “I must say, I’m curious about what it is you’re hiding.”

“I don’t know,” she played with the frayed edges of the old shirt she’d been lent.

“I think you do. I’ve shown you mine, but you won’t show me yours.”

Her head snapped up. I hadn’t intended it, but that had come out far differently than I’d planned. I resisted the smug look that wanted to cross my face. I was not sorry. This was new to me, this flirting without a motive thing. It made me wonder at my reason for saying what I did.

I turned away from her. The brightening room hinted at the incoming sunrise.

I went over to the windows. They had specially designed glass panes. I closed and locked them, dial built into the window sill to set the combination coded. No one would be able to open it in my sleep and use the sun as a means to my end. The code was changed at a regular, unscheduled schedule.

When I turned back, Ria was standing. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave. It’s nearing my bedtime and I should get some sleep,” I said, “I will see you later today.” She didn’t reply. She didn’t move. She just stood there and stared at my face. Her focus went from feature to feature. I couldn’t tell whether or not she was pleased with what she saw. Her expression was empty. Not everyone could do that around me. She truly was an actress.

Coming closer so that we were toe to toe, I tested the waters. She didn’t flinch at the closeness. She wasn’t scared. She just looked up at me, her head going right back because of the height difference.

“How could someone who’s seen what I’ve done, who’s seen inside my mind, not be afraid of me? What are you thinking?” I asked. Because it bothered me that I couldn’t read her and figure it out myself.

“Of course I’m afraid. I’m not stupid. I’m afraid all the time. I’m afraid right now. But I’m getting so used to it that it doesn’t matter,” she said in that quiet voice she had, “And now that I’ve seen inside you, I know you. I understand how your mind works. How you think. Why you do some of the things you do. Now I know how to deal with you better.”

“Isn’t that something?” I smiled a genuine smile. My first in a while, “Then if your fear does not matter, would you come to me when I wake?”

“What for?”

“I’d like to drink from you again, if you don’t mind.”

She didn’t respond at first, but after a beat she nodded, “Alright. I’ll come.” Before I could stop it, a soft laugh bubbled out of me. It was the strangest feeling, true laughter. It made one feel much lighter. I hadn’t expected her to agree. After tonight, I’d expected her to put up a very Ria-ish fight and excuse herself in a huff. I wouldn’t have blamed her. It was strange that she’d choose tonight to become so agreeable, but I wasn’t about to question it. It wouldn’t last long, knowing her.

“Thank you, Pet,” I said pushing her hair back. She didn’t cringe away. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought that she trusted me more now than she did before. I was no idiot. I knew it wasn’t that.

My fingers moved through the curls. It was an odd texture; smooth and yet wavy. She had a wild mane that evidently took a long time to tame. I’d never had a woman with such hair. I was used to straight if not braided. Wavy perhaps, but not the wildness and brightness of the red curls that seemed to grow everywhere. I was a bit surprised that she didn’t push my hand away and step back.

She just stood looking up at me with an inquiring look in her eyes. As if I was something fascinating that she’d never seen before. That was weird since physically, she was the odd one between us.

In this century genetic alterations in children before birth was possible for the wide public. Because of it, people who looked like Ria were rare. The genetic alterations in the children had the long term defect. As those altered children had sex with other altered children, often creating further altered children, some traits became lost. It made traits such as red hair, freckles and wild curls like the ones Ria sported highly unlikely. It was even rarer for a child to have all three at once. Even Ana’s hair was straight and they were siblings.

“Hmm…I do believe you might be growing on me,” I tugged on a curl watching it bounce and settle. Her reaction was split-second fast, but I’d seen it. It was one of those facial reactions that was subconscious but spoke volumes. A tiny crinkle at the eyes and the corners of her mouth upturned in an involuntary smile. Ahh. So my Pet wanted me to be pleased with her. Well this is interesting.

“I will see you later today,” I excused her. It was pointless but I then added on a whim, “May I have a kiss goodnight before you head out?”

“You want me to…” she trailed off.

“Yes. Come here.” The request, in that moment, turned into an order.

She looked about to resist. She wouldn’t be Ria if she didn’t. I decided that perhaps I was pushing my luck after tonight. But she frowned a little and, to my surprise, she placed her hands on my shoulders. They were small and weighed nothing to me, but they did hold a certain possessiveness. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that yet. She was mine without question, but I belonged to no one.

Ria interrupted my train of thought with a squeeze of the shoulder.

Having gotten my attention, she pulled me closer and looked me in the eyes. “What you did tonight was terrible. I might have enjoyed it for whatever reason that I can’t come up with yet, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was terrible. The only reason I’m not avoiding you is because I’ve seen something in you that I don’t think even you know exists yet. It’s given me hope in you. You do have potential to feel like any regular person. And that potential comes from the part of you that’s linked to me. I’ve seen that part while I was in your head.

After tonight, I’m going to make sure that that part grows because only I can do that. You’ll probably fight it and think you’re too strong for me to do it, but I’m a tough son of a bitch too. I will manage.

I’ve seen the real you. I’ve seen what you could be. And I’m choosing to stick around and not run away screaming every time I see you. It is undoubtedly the most idiotic decision that I’ve ever made, but I believe in you – sick bastard as you may be. I can make you better. I will make you better. No, not good. No one could do that. But I could keep you from being the vile monster you truly are.”

“I’d love to see you try, Little Red,” I leaned in closer, “It would make my decade.”

“Then you’re going to be one happy camper.”

I had a sneering retort on the tip of my tongue, but it was cut short by the tiny human woman with her mouth covering my own and her lips pressed softly to mine. I admit that I’d been taken off guard. Of all the things, I hadn’t expected that. And not in that way.

No one was gentle with me. I was not the type that people would feel the need to try. I was all violence and quiet anger and it was only normal that women responded to that in kind. They bit and scratched and played an array of rough, bedroom games. No one had ever gone for gentle.

There it is again. That possessiveness. It was in her touch; her lips and her hands, her body pressed against mine. As if I belonged to her. In the technical sense I did, but we both knew I wouldn’t allow it to go past technical. Especially not with her fingers drifting up to cup my face, her mouth growing more demanding even as I responded.

In all honesty, I was shocking my own self at my ability to be gentle. I was mimicking her for some reason. It was reflexive. Unconscious despite me being aware of it as I wasn’t trying to be.

By now I should have had her against a wall, hair pulled back, my mouth ravaging hers. Instead I was going along with her. Hand at her waist, thigh pressed between her legs, ignoring the faint beginnings of a scent that would call for much more than kissing. There was no shame in her body’s reaction. The heavy weight between my own thighs was hardening.

Pulling away and taking a breath, she stepped back a little. Her lips were kiss wet and flushed, her eyes wide and slightly disbelieving. It was one thing to do as your Master asked, but another to like it that much. The last time she reacted like this, she could have blamed the venom of the feeding. This time was all on her. Judging by the look on her face she had been testing out something and didn’t like the results.

“Good night, Alejo,” she said and left without another word.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Sitting back on the bed, I frowned at where my thoughts wanted to go. Ria as a lover was not what I had planned. She was a snack. Human. I did not have sex with humans. They were food. Companions on particularly boring days, but food first and foremost.

In this moment I despised the hormones that forced humanity on immortals. My mind conjured up an erotic series of images, all starring Ria. My mind wanted her mouth again; pressed to mine, pressed against my jaw, pressed to my neck, pressed to the hard ridges of lower, muscled areas of my anatomy. I wanted her to use her teeth on me. The same ones she bared at me once when I’d ticked her off.

“Shit.” Evidence of my thoughts were becoming harder to hide.

Why her? Is it the branding? It was easy to blame that, but it would be a lie. I’d been fascinated long before having her branded. I liked this human girl. Perhaps not romantically, but enough to count for someone like me.

I’d been with women far more beautiful than her. Caroline, Darla, countless others. Yet none of them crossed my mind once I was done with them in the bedroom. It was all utterly confusing. Maybe it’s a complex. I’ve always desired what I couldn’t have. Perhaps it was the way she fought me at every angle. I was aware of how much she disliked me. Maybe all I needed was to sate this fever she invoked and I could ignore her again.

Without a doubt, I wanted her…for whatever reason. That bothered me. I was attracted to her as a person as much as I was attracted to her physically. That was not allowed at all. I did not condone relationships with humans.

I did have some respect for her thought.  Human as she was, she had fangs of her own. Not physically like my own, but she had her own weapon to fight with; an intelligence that could prove to be lethal when used properly.

She was not classically beautiful. Nor was I. Unlike me, her beauty did not come from the danger within. I had many physical flaws, but it was easy to see past that when one honed in on the danger lurking beneath. It was often the same thing that made a tiger or jaguar beautiful in spite of any flaws. That sense of untouchableness.

She on the other hand, had the beauty of rarity. A diamond was coveted because it was uncommon. Gold wanted because it was rare. Power sought after because not everyone could have it. She was wanted by many because she had what hardly anyone did.

Every culture had something they deemed beautiful. Usually it was something that took effort to be attainable…if it even could be attained. Overly common traits weren’t usually the sought after ones. The same was with Ria. The rarity of her features drew me in like Darla’s exotic and rare beauty did. Same with Caroline. Brown skin on an immortal was scarce. It was not a coincidence that Caroline and Darla both had that tanned and darkened complexions respectively.

What was odd was that it took me this long to form a fascination with Ria’s physical self. A sexual fascination at least. I’d noticed her enough to want her as a Pet. Now I found myself wanting her splayed out beneath me, moist folds parted open for me. Enough that I could enter her, despite how tight and inexperienced as she might be.

Stop. That is not helping anything. I looked down at the erection sitting between my legs. Great. It was too late for this kind of thing but I knew it wouldn’t let up on its own. And the source of this problem would never let me take her virginity. She hated me no matter that she was also attracted to me.

This was all a big mess waiting to happen.

Making a split second decision, I opted for Caroline. I found her room and entered without knocking. For the first time, she had hesitated. I’d never had a woman hesitate to come into my bed after having the experience before. I understood once she asked if my Pet was alright with it.

It irked me that she assumed Ria had some say in who I took to bed. In it was the assumption that I belonged to Ria. I was no one’s. Alejo Veracci belonged to no woman. I quietly and calmly explained that to Caroline along with a reminder never to assume that again if she didn’t want to see my bad side.

She didn’t cower after that. She knew her life was safe. She was useful. She was able to fill me in on things from my past that were still a little fuzzy. I was remembering more and more though. Caroline was important for the moment.

Even more so because she was able to take the edge off my sexual hunger. When we were done, I went over to one side of the bed and commanded myself to rest. She knew not to touch me in sleep. I didn’t have to worry about waking up in the middle of a hugging session. It was the main reason I didn’t feel uncomfortable sleeping here.

I didn’t wake myself up until early in the evening. Caroline was already up looking beyond sated. It seemed that sleep did nothing to help her muscles recover from last night. Sitting upright, I got out of the bed and nodded goodbye to her. She gave a lazy wave and rolled over grinning.

There were no hard feelings between us. She had known me for far too long to expect different. We had been doing this since our youth. Affection was the last thing Caroline would ask of me. She knew it would be false and above all, she didn’t require it. She had her own husband to deal with. One who wasn’t threatened by me in the least. He had his own conquests to take up his time. And yet, he and Caroline had the strongest relationship with all the trust and friendship and affection any pair could ask for. I’d never understand it.

I cleared my dry throat. It was only now as I left her room, did I remember that I hadn’t gotten the chance to drink any blood before bed. I had been on my way to do just that before bumping into Ria last night. After her little confession, blood had been the last thing on my mind. Now I was starving.

Speak of the devil. Coming over to the stairs, I saw Ria coming down from the floor above. She had obviously gone looking for me only to find me not in my room. She opened her mouth to say something but the words died out when she looked over my shoulder. Caroline’s door was left ajar. Ria’s eyes dropped to my boxers; the only thing I was currently wearing. It hadn’t taken her long to figure it out.

“I was coming to see you,” she said, “to – uh – to tell you that I can’t do the feeding today.”

“Why not?” I asked suspecting already.

“Not feeling well. Sorry.”

She knew it was a lie. I knew it was a lie. She knew that I knew it was a lie. Yet she told it anyway. And I allowed her to.

No, I didn’t feel guilty about sleeping with Caroline. There was no reason for me to. But I felt it was best not to push her now. We knew what was likely to happen when I feed from her. I didn’t expect that she’d want to be sucked into the lust of feeding, knowing that I’d just come from another woman’s bed.

Nodding, I let her walk past me.

Spinning around at the last second I decided to call her back. “Hold on. I’ve changed my mind. We’re going to talk about this,” I said and walked over to meet her. She raised a brow at me. “Yes. I’m shocking myself too here, sister,” I said taking her by the wrist and walking back to the stairs. She trotted after me, trying to keep up.

We both knew what we were ignoring. Me refusing to ignore it was very unlike me. I stayed away from emotions when I could. Wanting to talk about the feelings between me and my Pet was very unAlejo-like.

I had been all for letting her go to her room and probably girl talk it out with her sister. Ana was as good an outlet as any. Especially since that plan didn’t involve me. Except it just occurred to me that her avoiding feedings would keep happening if I didn’t address those feelings.

I had been ready to ignore her reaction to another woman simply because it was convenient. I knew better. Ignoring everything would backfire with time.

“Where are you taking me,” her voice hitched.

“Relax. Your heart is safe,” I tossed over my shoulder, “We established that last night.”

She didn’t question anything after that. We got to the floor where I had my room, my office and the room of my second in command so that he had quick access to me. A couple of soldiers were leaving his room at the moment with him leading the way.

“Hello, Ria,” Ares smiled with all the false charm of a man with personality disorders like me.

“Ares,” she nodded.

“I must say. You and that dress make a gorgeous pair.”

“Thank you,” she looked down at it with a small smile.

“But I suppose, Mr. Veracci already talked your ear off about it,” Ares aimed another smile in my direction, “so I won’t hold you up.”

Ria’s smiled dimmed when she looked at me. I finally took notice of what Ares was talking about. Ria wasn’t one for dresses at home. Darla had given her a whole new wardrobe, but the girl still insisted on the ratty, oversized tees that were accumulating at this house. Since when do you get dressed up at home?

It was a simple, breezy, flowered dress with thin straps. It was the short and layered so that it swished around her legs when she moved. Looking at it, it hit me then that she had dressed that way for our feeding. She had dressed for me, not herself.

It irritated me that Ares had complimented what was meant for me. With a parting glare at the smiling immortal, I turned and headed up to the next floor.

 That son of a bitch knew damn well that I wasn’t the type to notice something like that. He’d said what he said on purpose to make that fact obvious to Ria. I wouldn’t care usually but I didn’t appreciate being played or shown up. And by my second of all people. That would not be happening another time. He needed to know his place.

Opening the door of the top room, I went inside. It was a library and den of sorts. Ria’s jaw dropped open as she looked at the shelves. The bookshelf covered most of the wall space and there was a lounge built into the bookshelf so that it became a sort of reading nook. It was also a swing set despite the plush bedding on top of it. The wide windows were thrown open letting the breeze inside. I suppose it was a cozy enough room. It was once my least hated sister’s personal place.

“We’re going to talk and we’re going to be honest while in here. For once,” I folded my arms, “We won’t be interrupted in this room.”

“Fine. What are we going to talk about?”

“We’re also not going to be feigning stupidity,” I told her before grabbing a seat on the couch opposite the swinging bookcase seat.

“No deceit at all? That’s new,” she took a seat in the bookcase, “So we’re going to talk about you and Caroline? Again?”

“She and I are a regular thing. You’re going to have to get over that.”

“No, not if you expect me to let you feed on me afterwards. I am not one of your immortal whores. I won’t have any man use my body and go to another woman only hours later.”

“That’s to be expected of you. You’re but a human child with romantic ideals of one man and one woman. It’s adorable,” I said slipping on the sweater hanging on the back of the couch.

“Cold?” she looked doubtful.

“No. This is for decency’s sakes. I am in no more than underwear and you are a virgin who has no intention of changing that status with little old me.”

“I don’t share.”

“Nor do I. Speaking of which. You and Ares. What the hell was that? Since when do you talk to him?” I asked, “And before you try to exaggerate your relationship with him, remember that I’m not a man you try to make jealous.”

“We talk in passing once in a while. It’s nothing. And for the record I wouldn’t waste my time trying to get you jealous. You’re not that attracted to me. It won’t work.”

“You seemed to think I’m attracted to you enough to make that dress worthy of note,” I looked down at the garment and the way it thrusted her breasts higher with a built in bra, “Not that it doesn’t do wonders for your figure.”

“I’ll take that as the highest of Alejo compliments,” she smirked, “Thank you.”

“I’m finding myself lured in by you, Little Red. I am attracted to you…for some crazy reason.”

“Boy you have a way with words,” she said as she lied on the swinging seat with her face turned to me.

“I do, don’t I?” I humored her before shaking my head, “You are a sarcastic little shit aren’t you?”

“I am, aren’t I?” she chuckled, “Nice of you to notice.”

“Well now that you know of my attraction, are you going to confess your own?”

“If you already know about it, what’s the point in confessing?” she asked. I stared at her. “Fine, fine. For whatever twisted, unhealthy, irrational, illogical reason I like you. Currently I’m trying to think of a good reason. I’m going between irrational reaction to immense emotional trauma and Stockholm Syndrome. Which is technically the same thing.”

I laughed at her matter-of-fact tone and the fact that she was casually braiding her hair while contemplating something like this. She was such an odd girl. “It’s moments like these where being attracted to you makes sense,” I said.

“Be still my heart. Aren’t you romantic,” she said making an exaggeratedly smitten face, “why this must be why you make my heart go a-ratatat.” I rolled my eyes, head still turned so that we looked at each other with only a few feet between us.

“Why are you attracted to me? It doesn’t make sense after what you saw.”

“That’s what irrational and illogical means, Alejo,” she said, “I don’t have a good reason why. I…I’ve always thought you were handsome. And built like wow.”

“Built like wow?” I raised a brow, “Is that some new slang?”

“Sure,” she nodded, “Grandpa.”

“I’m going to let that slide.”

“I was saying,” she changed subjects, “It was easy to ignore you when all you had going for you were good looks and talent. But we talk now. I’m used to you. We’ve fed and bonded. And now I’ve seen into your head and I’ve seen that with my help you have the potential to not be such a dick.”

“Ria,” my tone was a warning.

“Sorry. Even though we said we’d be honest here and you know that I don’t mean that apology.”

“I’m not used to hearing certain things. I want to give you free reign to say what you will, but you tend to go farther than I expect.”

“I’ll dial it down then. Anyways yes, I like you as insane as it is. Believe me I don’t want to.”

“Thank goodness. I don’t want to either. I mean come on, you’re lunch not a lover.”

“Right? You’re a narcissistic, masochistic, sadistic, probably psychopathic but more likely sociopathic serial killer with a deep desire to drain me and kill me. Why in the actual hell would I want you in bed? I don’t know why, but I do. Crazy? Of course it is. Right now it’s sheer common sense that’s keeping me away from you, but then I kiss you once and common sense goes to hell.”

“And Caroline?” I asked.

“I like her. She’s a darling. Really, she is. And while I wish she would stick to her husband, I can’t deny that you two have history and this thing between you three is normal for immortals,” she said looking up at the bottom of the shelf overhead, “but it bothers me. Like really really bothers me. It ticks me off, it makes me jealous and angry and I can’t help it. I hate it.”

“You know that I don’t feel anything for her.”

“Of course I know that. You don’t feel anything for anyone. I realized that when I was in your head. You’re fascinated with me, but you don’t have any actual feelings. You can’t. Not yet.”

“Is that what you want to do? Make me feel? I should warn you that you don’t want to do that. Men like me shouldn’t have feelings. I’m bad enough when no one matters to me. You don’t want to matter to me. You don’t want to give me something to fight for,” I said, “Trust me.”

“I know all of that already. And I can’t help but want you anyways.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Does anything between us make sense? Even remotely? You kidnapped me and made me watch while you tortured my sister. I should hate you. In fact I do hate you. But I also really like you. I’m a walking contradiction.”

“I’ve realized,” I ran a hand over my face, “And so you won’t feel comfortable feeding unless I stop having sex with Caroline?”

“You won’t do that. And if you do, you’ll have to find someone else and that’s just as bad if not worse.”

“What about you? If I made it you and you only, can we resume feeding?”

“I can’t give my virginity to you. It’s you,” she made a face.

“So you want me for yourself, but you don’t want me. You don’t want me having sex with other women, but you don’t want to take up the job yourself. When will the century come where women’s logic becomes logical?”

“Funny,” she scoffed, “but really, Alejo. You? The man I give my innocence to? Please.”

“It is kind of ridiculous,” I chuckled, “but it’s the only thing I can think of. Celibacy is not an option.”

“It’ll be so awkward. I mean we have no real chemistry. It’s all the venom,” she said, “Imagine that. Us…doing the dirty. Without venom.”

I laughed along with her. Me and a human. It was crazy.

After that little talk that day, I took a break from Caroline. It wasn’t as difficult as I’d thought. The feedings that I got made up for it. Ria and I were getting more used to it by the week. As time wore on, we fell into a routine.

Strange enough, we had developed a certain familiarity with each other. I was used to her now and she was fine with me. We talked easier and she felt free to come into my office or room when she felt like it. She teased me mercilessly once she learned how to do it without genuinely offending me.

Even Ana and Loki had teased us about the strengthening bond of our Master/Pet relationship. It was like having Samuel back. That is…if I’d flirted with him. That was something that I did that now. I flirted. Without a motive too. Just because I could. And she gave as good as she got when she felt like it. Ria was building a permanent place in my life. One I was growing accustomed  and attached to.

She sometimes came to watch me paint if she had the time. Other times she came in and read novels on her new favorite swing while I relaxed in what had become our personal den. She had talked me into getting a SmartVision screen in there and once in a while she could get me to watch a movie with her though the smell of popcorn irritated me. It was strong and lingered in the room for hours. It was as irritating as garlic, onions, bacon or curry. My nose was too sensitive for it.

Our relationship had turned pretty casual over the past month. The soldiers had learnt that she had gained importance. It had taken an unfortunate example to make that point, but even Ares refused to so much as look at Ria after what they’d seen. She didn’t know about it and I preferred it that way. There was no need to upset our feedings.

One very pesky soldier had thought it would be a good idea to make a move on my Pet. Not the smartest move. I had walked in on him grabbing her ass and trying to land a kiss to her neck. She had tried to put up a fight but it was pointless. She was human and a waif and he was a burly, immortal soldier under Ares and my training.

Well, he was still alive for now. Unfortunately. Considering his state, his friends were surely praying for a quick death for him.

 After the soldier offended me, I had called every other soldier and male working in the castle. I gathered them underground and told them of the soldier’s offence. I warned the rest against any interaction with Ria that I might so much as possibly disapprove of on any given day. Then I proceeded to show them the consequences.

All I’d needed was a sharp blade the length of my forearm.

I carved the man up good and proper, adjusted his skin in the most strategic way for what I needed, then allowed him to heal with the regrettably rapid speed of an immortal. He was currently kept in a transparent box in the hallway that leads to the soldiers’ training area. He was fed on time and got excellent care that ensured that he would live. The only drawback was the fact that parts of his skin was turned inside out and he healed that way.

He would die with time, but not before the sight was burned into ever man’s mind.

It was a good reminder that I was not to be messed with. Not me and not whatever or whomever I named my own. They knew that now. They were also warned not to let what happened get to Ria unless they wanted another box put in the hallway.

Speaking of Ria, I hadn’t seen her in a few days. I wasn’t worried. She was somewhere in the castle. I knew it. She was simply avoiding me. I suspected why. I had broken my sexual fast with Caroline recently. I had no doubt she’d somehow found out about it.

Ria’s avoiding didn’t bother me at first. But now it did. I craved the taste of her blood. The craving grew the longer I’d been feeding from her. Now that she trusted me during feeding, her fear had gone. I no longer had to be insanely careful with her. I could demand feedings now without worrying about her emotions rebounding on me.

I needed to feed from her now. I had no idea how I used to survive without it. Because of that, I was sure to keep from releasing too much venom into her blood while feeding. She needed to stay human so I could continue feeding. I thanked Biology for the fact that constant, small doses of venom lengthened the human lifespan. It didn’t turn them immortal like a deliberately large dose of venom would, but it altered their bodies for long enough periods. I needed that.

Ria’s blood was becoming a weakness. As much as the need to change her. It was a normal urge for immortals while feeding.

Weakness. It’s like that one friend everyone has. Nobody wants it around and you try to dodge it at every angle, but you can’t. Because it will always find you. It knows no boundaries and it refuses to accept that it’s unwanted. It will follow you around until it drives your sanity – that friend everyone wants – far away from you.

I was dealing with my weakness. I fought with it on some days and gave into it on others, but I was dealing with it. Pointed incisors glinted in the light as I watched the beautiful red head cross my office floors. I wouldn’t bite to Change. It was a silent promise as my eyes trailed behind her. She didn’t look in my direction once and her lack of attention caused me to fight a smile. My Pet is upset with me again. It was apparent in the downturn of her lips and the glacial look in her eyes. Her anger intrigued me on the most carnal of levels. No one ever showed anger toward me so openly.

No one would dare.

Rising to my feet, I crossed the room to meet her without making a sound. She turned and bumped into my chest but I barely felt the blow. She glared up at me, almost completely hiding her shock. “Did you want something else, sir?” she asked. On the surface the offer was polite and yet her tone held the promise of violence.

“I am hungry,” I replied brushing her hair behind her shoulders.

“I see.”

We weren’t on speaking terms, but she was still my Pet and Pets were there to feed their masters. She would not refuse me. Not even if it was her deepest wish. I looked at the long, pale neck and the network of veins pulsing with heat, life and blood just beneath the flesh. The creamy skin was pulled taut over the curve of her neck.

Cupping her neck, I lowered my head and caught the first whiff. Her heartbeat was an anxious flutter as the blood rushed through her veins. Baring my incisors, I pressed the pointed edges to her flesh and cut into it. Blood pooled into my mouth and I drank myself drunk. I resisted the urge to release the venom that, once again, threatened to enter her system. I refused to Change her. I was growing addicted to the human blood and I refused to feed on the blood of my own kind. I would not poison her body as much as I wanted to.

It was my weakness but I was doing my best to avoid it.

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Okay that was your double upload (as in I uploaded this book twice instead of one chapter for this and other for the other book). Now the uploads will go back to taking turns. No more double uploads thank goodness.

So what did you guys think?

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