"Alexandre, it is time to get dressed."

Don't want to move... 

"I'd prefer you naked as well, but would you like to go into a mansion full of vampires wearing nothing but those bandages?"

Bandages?

With a tired mumble Alexandre pushed himself up into a sloppy sitting position and rubbed at his right eye. Hmm? Moving his hand back a little, he noticed that there was a bandage tightly wrapped around it. Looking down, he found the same circumstance with his other hand.

He had wrapped my hands?

"Yes, now get up. I highly dislike being late, especially when I don't wish to go in the first place."

Wait, he doesn't want to go? Then why are we?

"Get dressed, Alexandre."

He quietly did as told but looked over at Ria a few times to see that he was sleeping. 

Looking back toward the captain as he tugged on the black pair of breeches he'd been given, Alexandre calmly requested, "can he have a blanket, please captain?"

James looked over at Ria, then back to Alexandre before tossing a small blanket into his arms. Alexandre couldn't help the smile that lit up his face as he quickly thanked him and walked over to the small boy. The blanket wasn't that big, but it easily covered him and he immediately snuggled into the soft fabric as Alexandre tucked it around his body.

"You need to eat before we go. I don't want you eating or drinking anything there."

Alexandre turned and quickly walked back over to the captain, just now noticing the food he had sitting on a tray beside him on his desk.

"I understand, Captain."

He quickly ate before James helped him with the jacket he needed to still put on, since it had a few extra buckles than he wasn't used to and his hands were painful to use. Once he was completely dressed, Alexandre ran a comb quickly through his messy hair and then pulled it back into a tiny ponytail.

"Hmm, sit."

He did so immediately, dropping into his desk chair as he handed him a small cloth.

"Hold it beneath your chin and sit still."

Alexandre watched as James grabbed a small blade from his desk and began quickly shaving off his beard.

Aww.

"It doesn't suite you."

"It made me look older..."

James leaned closer as he worked, and Alexandre closed his eyes to help keep his focus on staying still.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-four."

"You are young."

"But I want to look older."

"Why? There is no benefit to looking older, just in being older."

"Huh?"

"With age comes wisdom, but looking older does nothing. Besides..."

He leaned back, a faint smile on his face as Alexandre opened his eyes and lifted his free hand to rub against his smooth chin.

"You look much better without it."

Alexandre pursed his lips but wasn't going to argue.

"Alright, let's go. Ria, you are to stay here."

The smaller half-asleep boy nodded from his pillow as they stepped out into the dwindling twilight. At first Alexandre had wanted to ask if Ria could come, but then he remembered that they were going to a party for vampires and Ria would likely be much safer aboard the ship.

They had docked while he'd been asleep and a ramp had been lowered so that they could walk down to the wharf without needing to jump or use a rope. It was probably just to keep the humans in the area from questioning them. Either way, it was nice to walk on his own, even if his backside was still hurting from the burn. He stayed behind the captain but slightly to the right so that he could see where they were going.

"You are not to talk at this party unless spoken to. Merik is the noble holding the event and you may only address him as My Lord. Do you understand?"

"Yes, captain."

"Also, if he wishes you to do something, you must do it. I will be watching so if things get out of hand I will do my best to keep you safe."

It was a bit unsettling that the captain may have trouble against the noble, but at least he cared enough to try. Alexandre suddenly bumped right into his chest without any warning, having gotten lost in the other man's words. 

Why did he stop? 

He got his answer a moment later when James grasped his smooth jaw with his right hand and tilted it up as he leaned forward.

"I care about others taking what is mine. He always messes with me at these parties but he is more or less stronger than I, so I must attend or face consequences."

His hand lowered to the spot on Alexandre's neck that he had bitten earlier that morning, then began rubbing it gently with his thumb.

"This may keep you safe from at least most of the attendees. It won't keep Lord Merik at bay for long, but at least I remembered to visibly claim you."

Alexandre's cheeks lit up a little at his comment, evidently drawing his attention as he leaned in a bit closer and pressed their lips together. He felt the man's hand slide down his back and gently press him closer, but considering that he was pushing against his burnt backside, it made Alexandre jump and lift his hands to James' chest.

"Captain, the carriage is ready!"

"Very good, Desden. Alexandre, come."

James climbed into the carriage, offering his pet a hand as he quickly followed. Instead of letting him sit beside him, he gently pulled him into his lap so that he could nuzzle his neck. Honestly, he was having second thoughts about bringing him along on their little trip. He should have taken one of the other humans since it was mandatory to bring a blood donation. Granted, Merik only fed from a few humans during the night, but he always seemed to go after the ones he brought. He had killed two of the five he'd had accompany him previously, so perhaps this wasn't the best idea, but they were already on their way...

They arrived about an hour later. The mansion was set on several acres of land far from the main roadways that lead to and from town. Merik enjoyed his freedom, mainly because he enjoyed torturing his humans without any possible repercussions. 

James calmly climbed down with Alexandre in his arms, only setting him back on his feet when Desden walked over to them from tying the carriage off the dirt road.

"Desden, you are free to enjoy yourself. I will notify you when we will be leaving."

The young-looking vampire bowed, then disappeared inside the house. His second in command normally lost himself at such types of events. James wondered if that was still his plan, even with the young human boy he'd been caring for back at the ship.

Either way, he needed to make his grudging appearance.

"Let us go inside."

Alexandre nodded and quickly took his place a pace behind him as they headed up the stairs and stepped inside the bustling home. Sensual music drifted from the left and James easily located the three humans responsible for it. It was being played just loud enough to take your mind off of things if you so wished, but not to ignore someone speaking to you.

The home was large and had recently been redecorated judging from the scent of fresh paint and newly cut wood. There were several small half-circles of cushioned chairs in the corners of the room with two large tables of food to the left of the dance floor next to the musicians. Sure, vampires didn't need to eat, but their blood donors were allowed to partake in the meal because most would be fed on during the party.

His attention flitted back to Alexandre, only to find his eyes blank and staring straight ahead.

Shit!

He quickly stepped in front of him, immediately breaking his eye contact with Merik as the older vampire lazily strode toward them. He looked exactly the same as he remembered him; messy black hair and blue eyes, wearing a pair of dark brown breeches and a bright red long-sleeved shirt with a slit going halfway up his left arm. When he stopped in front of them and offered a hand, James hesitantly took it, letting his grip tighten as the other man's did before they released each other. 

Time to feign friendly formalities...

"You have a gorgeous human with you this time, James." 

His lips lifted into a fake smile as he nodded and stepped aside so that he could see his gorgeous human. Merik's eyes roamed over Alexandre without any restraint, stopping in several places that were not his to ogle. When he finally reached his hand out to Alexandre and smiled, James about snarled.

"Come."

If he wouldn't be turned inside-out for attacking the older vampire he would have taken Alexandre back by force. However, Merik was higher in rank and strength, so James made himself bite his tongue and nodded for his human to go along.

He'd called him by his name. 

Alexandre was surprised, but his attention quickly snapped back to the vampire before him as he curled his fingers in a come here gesture. He spared one more quick glance back over to the captain before hesitantly stepping forward and taking Merik's hand.

Ah, so you know my name, young human.

His head snapped up, meeting the vampire's eyes for a split second by mistake before he lowered them to his shirt.

I-I apologize, My Lord.

You do not have to fear looking at me...?

Alexandre, My Lord.

Alexandre. You have a beautiful name.

He felt Merik tug him forward and calmly stepped into his arms as they began to slowly move across the dance floor. He was no dancer, but it seemed like Merik was dancing for the both of them while they held a discussion in his own head. It was odd.

You will get used to it, being around vampires.

I suppose.

He spun Alexandre around calmly like one would when leading a female. It was slightly humiliating to be treated as such, but considering that he wasn't being hurt right then, he gladly swallowed his pride.

Is it so bad, Alexandre? You are obviously the more feminine of us...

His lips pursed at that, but again, he was not going to argue. 

Would you like your freedom from James?

"What?"

He hadn't meant to say that out loud, but had the man really just offered him freedom?

Not freedom, Alexandre. I offer you a life without that pirate. 

Merik's hand gently took his right one that had been resting on his shoulder during their dance. He hadn't even realized that they had stopped moving. The vampire's fingers ran along his bandaged ones faintly before he brought his eyes up to meet his.

He hurt you... I smell burnt flesh beneath these bandages and I believe you have another related injury beneath your clothing.

Wow, he has a good nose. 

Indeed. So... would you like to live here, with me? Away from that aggressive vampire?

He wasn't sure why, but he quickly replied in defense of the captain.

He did not burn me on purpose. It was an accident.

He did not?

No, My Lord.

Merik eyed him quietly for a moment before gently tugging him towards a large set of double doors. He could feel the captain's anger as he watched them, but he didn't say anything, so Alexandre followed after the other vampire. Besides, the captain had told him to do as Merik wished...

He was taken into a large side room and as soon as they stepped through the doors, they shut by themselves. That made him jump slightly, but Merik simply chuckled and brought him over to a black leather couch where they both sat down. Alexandre winced from the burn on his backside, drawing the vampire's attention right away. He tilted his head before reaching over and gently grasping his waist.

"My Lord?"

"Shh. Let me see..." 

See? 

Alexandre was abruptly lifted right into Merik's lap. Before he could find some sort of way to protest that wouldn't get him punished, he felt a cold hand easily undo the buttons on his pants and masterfully slide the fabric down to his knees that were uncomfortably straddling the vampire's legs.

Humiliation welled up in his belly as he fought to stay where he was. He felt Merik's hand travel to his backside and begin rubbing the burned skin there, making him flinch.

"How could he allow such an important area to be harmed so badly? Surely you do not think he caused it by mistake? Vampires are not stupid and we hardly ever make such blunders."

 He did have a point. The captain was definitely not stupid, and surely he would have known that the bath was going to be too hot for me...

As he thought about the vampire's words he felt Merik's gentle fingers from his free hand comb through his dark hair.

"He did it on purpose, and I am sure that was not the only thing he had done to cause you misery. Stay here, with me. You will have the freedom to wander my lands and go into town as you please. All I require is food every week or two. I have several blood slaves so that none ever fall to ill health from being fed from too often."

He ran his fingers down along Alexandre's cheek before placing them beneath his chin and lifting slowly until their eyes met for the third time that evening. 

The man truly did have amazingly-beautiful, glowing red eyes... 

"Stay, Alexandre."