(If anyone honestly hasn't realized this by now, this story is being rewritten lol) 

The deep growl from Merik still had him on edge, but at least he had Alexandre safe in his arms. James easily shifted him so that he was easier to carry, allowing his head to rest against his shoulder as he watched the other vampire slowly approach.

"What did you tell him to get him to come to you? Surely no human would be stupid enough to willingly go back to your disgusting ship!"

At least he was not trying to argue that he had done his best to control his pet's mind. He was honestly proud of his human for his strange ability to resist their kind. If he had fallen under Merik's control, he would likely not have him with him now.

"All I told him was that I had nothing to say to convince him. He knew how I treated him and I wasn't going to tell him otherwise, because it would be false."

Merik's eyes narrowed as they burned bright red with anger.

"Then why did he choose you?"

That made James smile, flashing one of his fangs in the moonlight.

"Curiosity."

Raising his free hand, he gently ran his fingers through Alexandre's soft hair.

"He is a very curious human and, I suppose, I let a small bit of emotion slip because I could read his mind trying to decipher my intent as he stepped towards me."

"Curiosity? What nonsense is that?"

His brow rose slightly at that comment.

"Curiosity is when someone or something decides that a risk is worth the reward of figuring out what is behind a secret."

"The reward? The reward is to be used by you and your disgusting crew until he is dead but a few months later! At least my slaves live out most of their lives."

"Their lives?"

James' eyes narrowed to match Merik's at that comment, though he knew they were glowing a dark goldish red instead of his bright red. He was not sure where Merik got that his slaves were better off. They were all without a mind due to his meddling.

"The way your slaves live is disgusting. You use your powers on them so often that they lose themselves. Not a single one of your slaves had an ounce of understanding in their eyes. They were all just dull, lifeless containers of blood!"

I may be cruel, but at least I do not take away who my slaves are.

Merik stopped about five yards away, his fangs bared, but James didn't see a threat yet. He had been to his parties several times over his long life, but he had never really seen him get into a fight. He always won his battles with scare tactics, because he could control others' minds.

"Give me him, now James."

His arms wrapped tightly around his pet as Desden appeared at his side.

"No. He belongs to me and I will not give him away. You have killed two of my former slaves already. I will not let you have this one."

The forest was deathly quiet behind him as he waited for the other vampire to respond. He could feel him trying to push into his mind, but for some reason he was getting nowhere. He should not be having trouble since he was mentally stronger, but...glancing down, James grinned at the man asleep in his arms.

"Put him down and fight me!"

James' eyes slowly calmed back to their normal darkness as he allowed them to rise and meet Merik's again.

"No."

The other vampire bristled as if he were having a tantrum, but as soon as he began to stalk forward Desden stepped in front of him and bared his fangs, hissing a warning he would gladly follow through with for his captain.

Merik backed off immediately, though his fury was easy to see in his eyes. James remained silent behind his crewman, but when Desden began to whimper, then grabbed his head, he knew that Merik's mind control was beginning to work.

"Desden, take Alexandre's hand."

He groaned, hunched over as he tried to resist, but thankfully managed to turn and do as told. The second he touched his slave's skin he instantly straightened and snarled.

"You are nothing more than a cheating leech!" Desden growled angrily.

No one attacked his crew without repercussions. With his own loud snarl James allowed his eyes to glow a deep orange right before the grass around Merik burst into flames. The other vampire quickly jumped back, but he wasn't going to be nice any longer.

"You attacked two things that belong to me..."

As he stalked through the short grass, James watched with a sarcastic sneer as Merik ran from the flashes of fire sparking along the ground.

"Without your mind control, you are nothing!"

He hadn't realized that he was stalking him right back towards his mansion until Desden shouted a warning in his mind.

Capt'n! We need to get Alexandre back so that he can rest. Merik isn't worth your pet getting sick.

He halted immediately, growling but looking down at the young man in his arms. Desden was right, Alexandre would be sick if he did not get him back soon. He may have been asleep, but with everything going on right then he could easily awaken and become more stressed.

You are correct. Leave the carriage, we will run back.

Yes, Capt'n.

Returning to the ship, Desden watched as his captain quickly disappeared into his cabin. He told him to go wake Helket and that to remind him that he would have a double shift. Double shifts were normally used as punishments, and considering the slight brief the captain had given him on their way to Merik's mansion, he knew that the guy was getting off easy with just some extra work and being unable to feed for a time. 

Either way, Desden got him up and then went back to his own room to check on his pet. He had not fed from him per his own punishment, but tonight he was finally able to so. After not feeding for so long he was extremely hungry for fresh blood. Just the thought had him drooling as he ducked inside of his room... and was immediately hit in the face with the scent of stale blood.

"Ari?"

The room was lit with a small candle on the dresser easily allowing him to find his pet where he stood by the washbasin with a small cloth pressed to his neck.

"Ari?"

The boy flinched and began shaking as he slowly walked over to him. He was bitten. Someone had bitten his pet, but...

"Who came in here while I was gone?"

The boy began to answer, but Desden quickly interrupted him as he stopped mere inches away.

"I warn you, Ari, I can tell when you are lying."

He gasped quietly and leaned against the wall, holding the cloth to the bite wound Desden knew was beneath it.

"N-no one... c-came in."

Desden's head slowly tilted forward as he glared down at the boy, then stepped closer until he was flush against the wall. He could hear him whimpering as he leaned over to whisper in his ear, "had I not warned you that if you leave this room without my permission... that I would break that little arm of yours?" 

He had thought that the warning would have sufficed. Evidently, the boy had not taken him seriously enough. 

His chocolate brown eyes widened in fear as Desden waited for him to answer. He knew what it would be, but he wasn't going to let him get away without saying it aloud.

"Y-you h-had..."

Desden's hand gently began sliding from Ari's left shoulder down towards the spot just below his elbow.

"So then, Ari. Why did you leave my room?"

He was short of breath as he tried to manage an answer. It was rather entertaining to watch. He was often the nicer of the crew, but that did not mean he liked being disobeyed and would not give punishments that had been promised. If the boy had gotten killed, he would have been in deep trouble with the captain, as they had very limited extra food and he was already starving. 

"I-I was bored!"

The tears running down his cheeks did nothing to quell the anger his words fueled in his chest.

"Bored. You were... bored?"

His eyes told him that he knew it was a very stupid answer, but he could also tell that he wasn't lying. At least, not entirely. He had likely tried to get overboard, or possibly even find his captain. He knew that he was a young human and likely had a good amount of energy considering he had not been fed from... yet, but that did not give him the freedom to be a fool and wander the ship.

He was nearly vibrating against the wall in fear, which only made him angrier. He eased back a little, but there was a punishment to be given.

"Do you not understand that you could have easily been killed? Raped?"

Ari flinched and shrunk against the wall farther. No pirate on their vessel besides maybe the captain, would have held back if they had managed to get him in their bed! 

Deciding not to waste anymore time, Desden slowly began to put pressure on his arm. 

Ari soon had his right hand clenched in his shirt and his forehead pressed against Desden's chest to help him remain standing while he fought the pain. The break should have taken much longer than it had, as the pain of the initial damage was the true punishment, but he hadn't had it in him to torture the boy. 

As soon as he was done he reached over to the dresser and grabbed the bandage wrap on top of it. It only took him a minute to get the boy's arm wrapped tightly enough so that the bones could mend correctly. Then he silently pulled him over to the bed and had him sit. His eyes looked pained and emotionally hurt as he stared up at him. Hopefully the punishment would teach him not to wander off, for his own good. 

He calmly nipped at his own wrist and offered it to him, watching as he leaned over and promptly began to suck the cold skin to withdraw some blood. It was fairly old, but it still held enough power to help his bone heal quickly. Once he had taken enough, Desden withdrew his hand and then nudged Ari backwards until his back fell against the blankets.

"I now understand the energy of a young human boy, so I will be sure to minimize what energy you have to use to get into mischief with."

Ari's sweaty brow furrowed as he calmly climbed overtop him, then allowed his body to lower onto his. He then nudged his way into the crook of the lad's neck and lapped at the previous bite wound.

Helket.

He would have to speak with the captain about him later. Obviously, the vampire thought he was above the rules. Pushing that to the back of his mind for the moment, he let his thirsty fangs sink into Ari's throat.

The coppery taste of life flowed warmly through his body as his lips sucked hard against his throat. He tasted absolutely perfect. Thankfully, the boy was smart about not trying to fight him, because if he got distracted while so hungry, he might have drained more than was safe. After about a pint he let his fangs retract and cleaned the wound so that it would seal correctly. Finally having the fresh blood in his system had him yawning. Since he wasn't on duty for awhile, he supposed that a good nap would do them both some good. He shifted a little so that he had his pet in his arms, then got comfortable.

"Sleep, Ari."

He could already hear the boy's heartrate calming, taking that as a confirmation that he would do as told. When his breathing slowed to a steady pattern, Desden allowed his own body to relax and fall into a deep sleep.