
Chapter 5
Alexandre swallowed hard when he realized exactly what point the blood pirate was making. No matter how truthful or logical his own words, the other man was the master and he would forever be his slave... until he became bored and deemed him fit to die, that is.
While his pet peeve was being poked fun at in this sort of way, he knew to hold his tongue. Instead, he forced himself to bare his neck in submission as he whispered.
"Aye, Captain."
There was a short time where sound was absent between them after he'd spoken, but when the blood pirate did make his move, Alexandre could feel his heart stumbling over itself in response. The man lunged for his throat, but he knew that he had to keep himself in a submissive posture. But dear god above, he wanted to strike out so badly. Even though he knew that it would be futile.
When Alexandre returned to his senses, he realized that the man was not biting him like he'd thought he would, but was instead looking down at him from mere inches above his face. Seeing him so close, hearing the quiet growls that accompanied his breathing... it was, surreal. He knew that he should be afraid, and he definitely was not in short supply of that emotion, but one could not wonder at how god could have created such an amazing creature, or if perhaps the devil had a hand its shaping, instead.
When he didn't move or speak Alexandre's eyes began to slowly wander along the planes of his face. His skin was smooth but also showed the wear of the long, violent life he had lived. There was a nearly-invisible scar just under his jaw, and a burn mark from a cross at the base of his throat. His own jab to the spot beneath the man's eye also looked like it might leave a sliver of a scar, too. His mind took him back to the mark on his chest, however, drawing a realization to his mind.
So these creatures can be damaged by holy items?
He tucked away that information for another time as his eyes continued their journey. Well, there was only so far down he could go considering that the man's coat and shirt, which he had donned at some point before Alexandre had woke up the first time, hid most of his chest besides a faint brushing of pure black curls peaking out from the worn cloth. His mind brought forth the question about his body heat, which he had definitely noticed was much lower than his own, but he didn't have an answer and didn't dare to ask. There was so much that he wanted to figure out about the strange man, though. For curiosity's sake.
If he was so cold, there was no way that he could logically be alive, but he was right there, staring down at him with those stormy feral eyes.
Curiosity, love.
"It killed the cat," Alexandre replied in a whisper.
Indeed, but what if the cat, was not quite a cat?
He had no idea what the man meant by that.
"Of course a cat is a cat. It can be nothing but what it is..." he eventually replied, the confusion he felt clear in his words.
For such a curious man, you have allowed your faith and the world of illusion to blind you from what is really there.
Alexandre knew that he could read his mind, but still, he wished that he would at least pretend not to make it known each time he was thinking about something important.
Hmm... so you think that I am important?
Alexandre felt his cheeks burn slightly in the dark room as he glanced away. There weren't many places he could really look, though, considering that their noses were nearly touching.
Capt'n?
Yes, Desden?
Our food stock for the humans is quite low. If we do not refill our hold at the port city nearby, we may lose a few of them to hunger.
He really wasn't too keen on going ashore after commandeering a crew from their vessel in local waters, but perhaps... A small smile graced his lips as he narrowed his eyes on the man beneath him. He looked confused at the sudden change of emotion and expression, but that was just fine.
I will send my new human to retrieve some food.
Capt'n? He could get the navy on us in less then an hour. Are you certain?
I doubt that he will even consider such a thing.
Why, Capt'n?
He is far too loyal to these men. Especially that boy you've got, I'll bet.
He does ask of him quite often, but are ye' sure it is safe?
Aye. I will send him ashore to retrieve supplies.
Understood, Capt'n.
"I have a proposition for you, love."
A look of hesitancy came over Alexandre's face almost instantly, making the blood pirate's own smile grow wider.
"It is quite simple, something even a human could easily manage."
He relaxed ever-so-slightly before replying with a quiet voice.
"What... proposition?"
He couldn't help but reach forward and run his thumb along those perfect lips as they moved. Most humans didn't do well at sea for long voyages, but while his crew's skin was burned and chapped from hours under the sun, no doubt from multiple trips, his beautiful little human was near-to flawless. Of course, his body was tanned and strong, proving that he didn't just sit in his cabin, but lucky was on his side as far as his body's ability to handle the damaging sun.
Oh, right, the proposition.
"So then...it would seem we are in need of more human food, in order to keep our new catch in decent health."
Alexandre furrowed his brow and chewed his lips, nearly nibbling at his thumb where he'd left it resting against the soft skin. If he wasn't sending him ashore in a few minutes, he would bite those gorgeous lips until they bled.
"The deal, my love, is that I will free you from your chains, and you shall retrieve food for your crew."
He thought that it was a perfectly acceptable agreement. Of course, he would be shackled the second he got back, because he wasn't going to let his new pet just run free about the ship, but he could have a short bout of freedom. Besides, it might make him behave better.
"So you're letting me... go?"
The man's words made him laugh outright as he patted the poor soul's cheek. He didn't seem to understand that he belonged to him for the rest of his life. He didn't let people go; he killed them.
"No. You will always be mine, and if you do not return to me by sundown, I will begin killing your crew, one by one, beginning with that young, energetic cabin boy."
He could see the man's eyes widen in the darkness of his room, but to his pleasure, Alexandre didn't back down yet.
"You wouldn't waste.... food."
He was definitely a smart man, but he was only partially correct about the wasting part.
"If it works as an incentive to return you to me, then there is no waste by spilling their blood. Yes, we might need to harvest some more food from another vessel, but I will gladly follow through with my threat if it brings you back to me."
When Alexandre didn't reply he leaned back enough to fish out the key from his pocket and began unlocking the shackles around his human's wrists.
"You will be brought to shore by my first mate, and he shall accompany you on your task. By nightfall I expect that the shore boat be filled, and you two shall be back here before sunrise tomorrow."
He could see the relief on his human's face as the cold metal fell away, but it was soon replaced with a nervous determination. He couldn't quite read his mind at that moment, but his own curiosity wished that he could.
"I understand, captain."
"Good, because I would hate to have to track you down myself."
Alexandre lifted his eyes to meet his own. There was another mix of emotions there, but before he could decipher them all, the man had blinked them away.
"You shall have no need to do such a thing. I will return promptly with the food."
"Very good, Alexandre. Now then, fasten your coat and wash your face. You shall be off shortly."
His pet seemed a bit surprised that he was leaving right away, but he didn't see a reason to withhold the mission when their food stocks were running so low for their livestock.
Desden, you will accompany Alexandre to shore. If he misbehaves, you have my permission to distribute non-lethal punishments but I want his body to remain unscathed below the waist. That is for me to mark, only.
Yes sir, Capt'n.
"Alright, follow me, Alexandre."
Seeing him get up and do exactly as told had him smiling as they strode out onto the main deck a few minutes later. It was an overcast morning which he was definitely grateful for. He wouldn't burn in the sun, but it was quite uncomfortable to his eyes. Desden was already over by the dingy, untying most of the ropes to get it down into the water.
"Ready when you are, Capt'n."
He nodded to him and turned to address Alexandre.
"Desden has twenty gold coins, along with a few silver. You know what your crew eats so just retrieve the money from him when you find what you need."
"Yes sir," was the man's clipped reply before he started moving.
His eyes followed the human as he ducked around him without another word, but like hell he would let him go so easily. Reaching out in a blur, he snatched the man's wrist and yanked it hard enough to whip him off of his feet and backward right into his arms.
No one ever walked away from him without being dismissed, especially not his pet.
His deep growl stopped the beginnings to Alexandre's struggles as he realized that he'd overstepped his boundaries. He knew that he couldn't leave a visible mark on him since he was going to be around humans again, but he wasn't letting him off the hook for dishonoring him, either. Desden might be his first mate, but he knew that he would love the chance to go about the ship telling the whole crew of how he'd let some human play his rules.
With a few good nuzzles from his nose, the blood captain managed to get Alexandre's coat off his right shoulder and lick the hot skin there a few times. He could hear the man's mind silently begging him not to bite again, but that was the best way to show dominance and teach the respect he required, even amongst his own kind.
When his teeth sunk in moments later, he felt the man wince, but he wasn't done this time. He shifted his jaw a little, then bit down harder until he could feel the tips of his fangs scratch against bone. Alexandre's mind was flickering as he felt pain flare through his system.
Such a bite was normally his punishment for other vampires who misbehaved, but since Alexandre was his personal pet, he would take the harshest punishments. He handled it well at first, though when he made a chewing motion with his mouth, the pain erupted and a few seconds later, his mind went blank.
Knowing that continuing would be pointless, he quickly retracted his fangs with a satisfied growl and easily shifted the man's unconscious body in his arms before carrying him over to Desden.
"Be sure to fix his clothing over the mark before you get to shore."
As Desden took Alexandre he grinned and replied, "aye, Capt'n."
Desden carefully laid Alexandre in the boat, then began to lower the vessel into the water.
"Be safe and take care of my human."
"Yes, sir!"
The blood captain watched silently until the boat was out of sight. For some reason, his stomach was twisted into knots. It oddly hurt, because he was not used to feeling anything, for anyone. Not that he was feeling anything positive towards his new human. He was just simply food and an outlet for pleasure, that was all. There was nothing else for him to be.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro