"Wow, this is really big..."

I gulped as I followed Kenzo down the spacious hallway of the castle, in absolute awe of the beauty and luxury that every room seemed to have. "Yes! Master likes to make sure that we live as comfortably as we please, giving everyone in this here coven their own master suite," We passed through the main hallway, the shiny stone floor blinding me with its shine as we gazed outside of the big glass windows.

"There is the garden I wanted to show you," Kenzo seemed happy to lead me around, despite the many questions I had asked since I wandered around to find him. There was a large garden that took much of all of the outdoor space, a variety of colors brightening up the green grass as various gazebos and patios along with benches and waterfalls greeted me. "I'll take you to the garage later to show you where we house the many cars that we have for all of our members. I believe we got you a new Mercedes-AMG SUV, decorated with all of the stuff you had in your old car," I stared in absolute disbelief, knowing that it had only been a day and a half since I arrived here.

Mierda?

"Where would someone get all the money to fund all of this stuff?" I questioned, wondering if I was taken in by a drug lord. It was the only explanation and I knew that asshat had a lot more secrets in him. "Oh Master is the current Count of Lithuania, so he has tons of wealth accumulating to his name," The bubbly human explained and I nodded in understanding, clicking my teeth. He was rich all right.

"Oh, by the way," Kenzo put a finger up to his lip, stopping to look at me. "I went to deliver the Master his morning meal, but he wasn't in there. Would you know where he was at?" He questioned and I tentatively nodded, smiling to myself.

"Yes, he stayed the night in my room last night and he didn't leave until 11 this morning," I chuckled, relinquishing in that memory.

He had sat in the chair all night, holding onto my hand. He asked me to tell him about my happiest memories from Havana, asked me what I liked to do even though he already knew because he was powerful enough to see into my thoughts, asked me what I hoped for. I had to admit, I was quite taken aback and shy about it because I couldn't remember the last time someone put me on the spot and asked me about myself.

It was incredibly refreshing indeed. I should've felt scared about being in a new situation with this big and scary looking Dracula consuming my space, but I trusted in his word that he would do nothing to harm me.

I didn't know if I could call it the naivety in me, or if I was making the right chance, but I was going to go with the flow and leave everything behind. 

"Oh, Master must've wanted you to get used to everything," Kenzo chuckled to himself, giving me knowing eyes. "You've got our dear sire wrapped around your finger this early in the game, Eli," He sounded so pleased as I blushed, shaking my head frantically. "N-no, you've got it all wrong," I sputtered, listening to him laugh.

"It's nice to have another human here, so please feel free to tell me all about you and where you come from. Of course," Kenzo pointed to himself, his red hair as fiery as his cheeks. "I'll do the same," I frowned, thinking about everything that I left. My poor family, as bad as it was, were probably worried.

I would hope.

I didn't have my phone as it broke during the crash, but Zander promised me a new one with all of my old stuff on it, so I would see if anyone reached out to me. Probably not.

"I see you're still wearing that necklace."

With widening eyes and a sharp pivot of my foot, I whirled around to that familiar voice as my jaw dropped. "C-Cameron?!" The blonde sauntered towards me, a familiar quirk of his lips as he stared at me. "Hey, Eli," He sounded a bit nervous as he stood in front of me, allowing me to fully put together what I was thinking. "Y-You..." 

He nodded, seemingly understanding what I was trying to say. "Yes, I belong to this coven as well," He pointed to his pale face and I watched as fangs elongated from his gums, realizing that I found no fear in me. "¿Qué mierda?" I mumbled to himself as he looked afraid of my response. As much as I wanted to feel some sort of resistance, remembering moments that we had reminded me of the fact that he was a vampire.

Either I was still in shock, or I just accepted everything as it was. "I'm sorry that you had to find out under these circumstances," Cam offered me a grim smile as if he was trying to encourage me and I snorted, not wanting to hear anything about that. "Don't worry," I replied as he threw an arm around my shoulder, gauging to see if I would flinch or not.

When I didn't, he started walking, talking to Kenzo. "Ken, we need to go to the great hall. Master has requested our presence," Kenzo nodded in confusion, leading down a million hallways that were neverending. 

"It's a good thing you aren't afraid of crowds," Cameron threw his head back in a laugh as we approached tall black fiberglass doors that seemed completely ominous. "I know you expected to see more of us around, but Master wanted to you see them all at once," I stared stupidly as he knocked twice on the door before pushing on it.

As the door opened and we stepped in, Cam immediately returned his arm to his side, going to stand next to Kenzo. I was extremely shocked by the sheer glory that was around me. There were many portraits hanging all over the wall, some of Zander, some of other people I didn't recognize.

There were tons of fancy tables and chairs in the center, a large grand staircase to the back right of the room, leading to another floor. I looked around until my eyes fell on the person who could make my heart skip a beat within a day of our meeting.

The master vampire.

He was donning a casual blue button-down with black slacks, emphasizing the blue lowlights that sat on his head, framing his silvery-blue gaze. I wasn't even sure of my sexuality at this point, but one thing was clear.

He was every bit of attractive.

He looked every bit of commanding as he stood tall before these people, and I could see why he was the master. "There you are, lubirea mea," I blinked as Zander, within a blink of an eye, appeared next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist as if he had been doing so for years. I would never be able to get used to that. "I have some people for you to meet," I gulped as looked around the large great hall, seeing dozens of vampire standing there looking at me, some with antipathy, some with curiosity, a few with glee, and the rest acting as if they could care less.

What really struck me was the six vampires that were in front of the rest. I could just sense how much more powerful they were just by looking at them. They were on a much higher level and I swallowed a knot in my throat, watching their red eyes scan me from head to toe like they planned on devouring me whole with one gulp. 

Zander went to speak, but the tanned vampire with curly black hair and red-turned-green eyes came bounding up to me, glee written all over her smile as she took my hand in hers. "Hi, cutie! My name is Leticia Greed! It's so nice to meet you!" 

Zander grunted, glaring daggers into her hand and the girl just chuckled happily, throwing her arm around my shoulder as she came to stand next to me. "Oh, shush, Zando! This is the first time we're ever meeting someone so important to you in centuries!" She, Leticia, looked all over me with big eyes as if I was under a microscope. "Forgive us for being so excited that you brought someone so cute into your life!" She giggled, winking at me and despite her poking and prodding, I felt like I would like her.

"Leave my fated alone before you scare him away with your exuberance, Leticia," Zander rumbled with a roll of his eyes, pointing to the next person. "This is Silas Breedlove," My eyes landed on a tall fair-toned male with gold eyes, blond hair hanging over his eyes as he nodded in my direction curtly.

Oof.

"She is Ophelia Law," A wave from the right of Silas caught my attention and I turned to look at a dark-skinned woman with straight black hair, the ends a gold as her light brown eyes twinkled with mirth in my direction. "Welcome," She nodded towards me and I sighed in relief, thankful that she was somewhat okay with my presence.  

Zander forwent his words as he just motioned for the next person to speak. "Hello, dear one. My name is Demetrius von Ruden, but you can give me a nickname if you like!" I was sure that I found the equivalent to Leticia in an average-height man with light brown curls and grey eyes, a big smile instantly calming my nerves. "We are super stoked that you are here to make our Master happy!" I couldn't stop my smile at the sound of his words. This was all new to me, and I had to make sure I was keeping up with everything.

"I believe you know him from school," I gaped like an idiot as the man in question coughed, throwing a smile my way. "Hi, captain," Nathaniel Le Roi grinned, his dark brown hair contrasting against his pale skin as he rubbed the back of his neck. I rolled my eyes playfully, giving him a nod in response.

Of fucking course. It made sense. He always clung to Cameron. 

"Last, but not least, Ruby Drabek."

My eyes landed on a pretty blonde-haired woman, her eyes boring into my soul, and I just knew she loathed my entire existence with that cold and harsh stare of hers. For whatever reason, she was deliberately gazing right at me, no sign of welcoming on her face or body, and I could feel the apprehension forming in the air. 

"These six make up my executive vampire council as they are the last among a few vampires to be pureblood."

I tore my eyes away from Ruby, not wanting to have any issues this early. "Guys, this is my beloved, Eli Velacruz. Be sure to treat him with the respect he deserves," There was a warning threat underneath his casual tone, and everyone in the room, all dozens of the vampires nodded as they took to heart what he said. I waved to each and every one of them, giving them a smile. "I hope we can get along well, and you all can teach me the ways of hows you live."

It was honest as I wanted to know about who they were and why they were here. Each one of them had a story and lucky for them, I enjoyed reading. It was surprising to uncover a new world that I never knew existed, but I wasn't going to give up before I saw the worst. 

I was literally nervous, but I was a fighter.

"Ah! You're super adorable! Zando, please let me have him!" Leticia cried out from my side, earning a flick in the cheek from Zander. "I said no." He growled lowly and she started to pout, going to his side to poke him in the stomach. "Oi, Lety! Stop before you make Your Excellency mad!" Demetrius came over to pull her away from Zander who sighed as if he had been dealing with this for years.

I stifled the laugh that threatened to burst out. I could tell that all seven of them were close with each other, and it made me a bit happy just because I didn't want to imagine that Zander lived a life of solidarity, afraid to get to know anyone. 

I didn't know this man apart from anyone else, or his life story. I didn't know what kind of person he was, but something in me knew that he would soon be of importance.

"Stop before you scare Eli away!" Ophelia chimed in, and I felt someone raking their gaze all over me as I turned to look at Ruby, who was apart from everyone else trying to get Leticia away from Zander. Her bright blue eyes bore into my soul as she visibly clenched her teeth, giving me so much hatred that she could muster up.

Yikes.

"I know they don't seem as intimidating and they act like a bunch of goofballs," Kenzo came to stand next to me as I watched Zander argue with them as if they were all kids. "But they all have each other's backs, and they all respect Master Zander. Just like everyone else, they all owe him everything." I took his words to thought as he pulled me out of the unsuspecting gaze of Zander, and I got the courage to ask him about things.

"He said they were executives. Does that mean something?" I questioned and the cherry-haired boy nodded in agreement. "There is a hierarchy among every person here. It's how Master keeps control of things," Kenzo began. "At the top, it's Master and Master only. Then you have his executives, who are pureblood vampires. Then you have the Elite, who were turned by Master himself. They have nothing but pure and royal blood in their veins, but they aren't quite fully vampire. Then you have the regular vampires who were turned by other vampires besides Master," He said and I bit my lip, realizing how complex it was to live here.

 "As you know, I am the only human besides you, so I belong on the very last row of hierarchy as I am weak compared to the vampires, ad I serve as nothing but a blood slave. When we did have humans, we all were blood slaves," I furrowed my brow, unsure of how to feel about this. 

"It's nothing bad to be a blood slave. We live so much better than what you would think, and for the small price of giving a share of your blood every now and then is nothing. Besides," Kenzo winked, seemingly finding a silver lining among all of this. "You are a blood slave to one person and if you're lucky enough, they turn out to be your fated. That's how it was when we had humans. The vampires found their beloved among them, and turned them into vampires,  hence why I'm the only one left."

I pointed to the two holes on his neck and he looked down, twiddling with his fingers. "I-I'm lucky enough to be a blood slave to one person..." His voice was soft and narrow as if he was about to utter the saddest melody. "But the only thing that sucks about being a human is that if you aren't good enough for your fated, they can choose not to tell you." He whispered.

I went to ask what he meant by that, but he quickly bounced back, giving me his best pearly-white smile. "You are incredibly lucky to be the fated of Master Zander because you have a higher role above everyone else here," I didn't know how to feel about that. I didn't want any special treatment just because I was the soulmate of their leader.

"Uh, I don't know how I feel about that," True, I didn't have the social standing to protest to anything, but the human in me did not like how Kenzo was being treated despite everything. "Don't worry about me!" Kenzo giggled, poking my cheek. "I am very grateful to Master Zander for saving my life, so I'll take anything."

He said so, but I didn't like that concept. If humans were blood slaves, then they should be held to a higher level of respect since these vampires depended on them. Vampires needed humans to live, and even if there was a single vampire that didn't need blood to survive, humans were still of importance to them. 

Something about was going to have to change.

If I wasn't Zander's fated and he still saved me, I didn't know where I was going to be, but I knew one thing. I only knew Kenzo for about a day now, and I just knew that there was so much that he deserved. He had a story to tell— I could see the pain in his eyes, so something had to give.

I would make sure of it.