Chapter 7
Sven
The blood drinker and my sister were easy to find. They left a trail that was easy for me to follow, especially my sister. It seemed almost as though she wanted me to find her. Perhaps she wanted to talk to me but from what she told me all she wanted was for me to cease my service to Lucius. It just wasn’t right. What did she care who I followed? Why did it matter to her? Lucius was keeping me alive; I would be dead now if it wasn’t for him. Because of his blood and tender care I am still among the living, although I do not know how much longer I have. I am sure that Lucius knows but he will not tell me. No matter how hard I attempt to get him to he will not. Oh well, he knows when the time is right. It was Lucius who stopped them from taking me to Siberia but he didn’t do anything with me. He left me where I was. I’m the one that found him. I wanted to thank him. Soon after I found him I collapsed, almost dead. He saved me. That first draught of blood brought the life back to my body. It doesn’t matter how much of his blood I drink though, it will never stop the disease from one day claiming me. He doesn’t know but I’ve been getting worse, much worse. I don’t eat and hardly ever am able to sleep for more than an hour at a time. I don’t know what he would do if he discovered it. I shall tell him when I deliver Remy’s reply.
I made the long trek home in less than a day, thanks to the miracle of airplanes. As I walked in the door I noticed that Lucius was sitting in my favorite chair, admiring the setting sun. He was sitting directly in the sun, from what I understood he should be dead. Slowly I approached him, unsure of what I was seeing.
“Your eyes do not deceive you Sven.” He said softly, “I can be in the sun.”
I swallowed hard, “Remy told me to tell you that,” I cleared my throat, “I’m pleased to know that Justus is dead but I will destroy all of our kind. We do not deserve to live.”
He sighed, “Anything else you want to tell me?”
I nodded, “I’m getting worse, I can’t eat and don’t sleep for very long. I think I’m going to die soon.”
He shook his head, “Come here.” He said, holding his arms out.
I walked towards him. When I was close enough he pulled me against him. I collapsed in his arms as he played with my hair. It reached the middle of my back because he did not allow me to cut it. I always keep it tied back because I’m not used to having long hair. I closed my eyes as a sharp pain from the disease issued from deep inside. Suddenly I felt something wet touch my lips. His blood flowed into my waiting mouth. I swallowed twice before he pulled away. The pain disappeared as his burning blood flowed through me.
“Do you feel better?” He asked softly as the sun disappeared.
I nodded, “A little. I’m so tired.”
Without a word he picked me up and carried me to one of the bedrooms in the house he had given me. Laying me down he covered me with the blankets, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He said before walking out of the room.
I pulled the blankets up around my head to wait for Lucius to return. It wasn’t long before he did. In his hands were a bowl and glass. Setting down the bowl he held the glass to my lips for me to drink. Hot, sweet, tea flowed into my mouth. When I had finished Lucius picked up the bowl and made me drink it as well. I snuggled deeper into the blankets, feeling weak and tired. I wanted to sleep but Lucius had other plans. He pulled the blankets down to my waist before removing the bone choker that I always wear. My throat was now open to him and I had a feeling that he meant to drink from me. Gently he kissed my throat. His icy lips burned against my feverish skin. I could feel the press of his teeth then the stinging as they entered my flesh.
“Master.” I whispered as I sank into pleasure, “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer but kept sucking on the two neat puncture wounds in my throat. I could feel a pulling in my veins as all my blood rushed towards his mouth. I felt myself dieing, not painful but pleasurable. Falling into bliss. He pulled away and I opened my eyes. Everything was blurry, seeming to merge into one swirling mass of color. As everything began to go dark I felt moisture on my lips. Drawing it off my bottom lip with my teeth I realized that it was blood. I was drawn towards it, towards life. Drinking, pulling the blood from his body. I kept swallowing, never wanting to stop. Careening out of control I lost myself in the beauty of his blood. He pulled his wrist from my mouth. I lay very still, feeling his blood fill every ounce of my body. Flow through my limbs bringing life back to me.
“Rest, death will soon come for you. You are now like me. I didn’t want you to die but I had hoped that it could wait until this is over. You can no longer use magic. Your new abilities will strip you of that.” He said softly as the door opened.
The man who had arrived with Lucius walked in, “Cian, this is Sven.” Lucius said to the man.
“Hello, Sven.” Cian said softly, “You haven’t died yet have you?”
As I was about to answer my body was racked with pain. I screamed and grabbed onto Lucius’ arm. My nails dug into his skin, which he ignored. With his free arm he pulled me against him, held my head to his shoulder. Gently he began to rock me back and forth, comforting me. It felt like forever before the pain subsided. I took in a deep breath as I shuddered against him.
“That answered my question.” Cian said with a soft laugh, “So what are you going to do with him?”
“He shall sleep with your child.” Lucius said softly.
“I don’t want to sleep.” I said, pulling away from him, “I want to speak with my sister. Ask her why she is helping Remy.” I said quickly.
Lucius sighed, “I don’t think that’s safe. She will attempt to kill you.”
I shook my head, “Then I shall just have to kill her first.”
“Sven, don’t question me.” Lucius said softly.
“Let him come if he wants.” Cian said quietly, “Let him learn why you know what’s best for him. He will survive; I shall help keep him safe. Besides, I’m sure he can find Remy before we can.”
Lucius didn’t look pleased, “I shall think about it, tomorrow I will come to a decision. Sven, you will remain in bed for the remainder of the night.” He ordered.
“Very well.” I said, laying back down and closing my eyes.
“Is this room safe from the sun?” Cian asked softly.
Lucius nodded, “He will be perfectly safe here. You should remain as well when morning comes.” He said before going to the door, “Cian, are you hungry?” Cian nodded, “Come, feed with me.”
Together they left me to rest and adjust. I felt alive but completely exhausted. Closing my eyes, I waited for sleep to take me. It was hours before it did. When I awakened it was night and I felt an insatiable hunger. Cian was still asleep in a chair across the room. As I looked around the feeling of the sheets startled me. Looking down I discovered that I was naked. I panicked as I pulled the blankets to cover me. The only article of clothing I could see in the room, that was mine, was my choker. I felt exposed and having Cian in the room didn’t help. As I tried to figure out what to do Lucius walked in. I pulled the blankets closer, causing him to laugh.
“Sven, I’ve already seen your entire body. I’m the one who stripped and bathed you. Don’t be so modest.”
“You know, I can bathe myself. I don’t need help.” I spat.
“Perhaps so, but if I do it during the day it saves time.” He said, sitting down next to me.
I sighed as he pulled the blanket down to my waist before running his fingertips over my still warm skin. I shivered as I tried to push him away. He was relentless, his fingers continuing to rove over my body.
“Master, please stop.” I said softly as I shivered.
He smiled as he brought his hands to rest upon my chest, “Very well. I shall bring you some clothing.” Getting up he walked over to Cian, “Wake up.” He ordered, shaking him.
“Leave me alone.” Cian growled.
“Don’t push me Cian.” Lucius hissed.
Sighing, Cian opened his eyes, “I’m up.” He said softly, “But I’m still tired.”
“Why don’t you change? We need to get ready to leave.” Lucius said softly as he set about gathering clothing for me.
Cian left without a word. When he was gone I grabbed up my choker. Tying the leather straps behind my neck I began to look around. I had never been in this room before, never seen the entirety of this house. Wrapping one of the blankets around me I sat up in bed. As I was about to get to my feet Lucius walked over to stand before me. There was a long coat made out of scarlet velvet, a blood-red silk shirt, and a pair of black pants.
“Time to get dressed.” Lucius said, holding out the clothes for me.
I took them but wouldn’t dress while he was standing in front of me, “Could you please leave so I can get dressed?”
He chuckled as he left the room. Slowly I began to dress in the clothing he had given me. The silk felt good against my skin as I buttoned the shirt. The pants were tighter than what I was used to but I could deal with it. As I was debating about whether to put the coat on or not Lucius walked in, startling me. I glared at him as I picked up the coat from the bed. Without a word he handed me a pair of black boots made from soft leather. Sitting down I put them on after dropping the coat on the floor. Lucius picked it up as he waited for me to stand. As I got to my feet he held the coat so that I could put it on. Sighing I put my arms into it before turning to face him.
“Turn back around.” He ordered.
I rolled my eyes as I turned my back to him. Quickly he pulled my ponytail out of the coat. Removing the band that held my hair in place he began to braid it. I closed my eyes as he finished. I didn’t think that people of the male gender should be wearing their hair in a braid; it was something that girls wore. When he ran his hands down my arms I turned around to see his smiling face.
“Why are you treating me like a doll? A toy that you can do with as you please? You dress me the way you want, make me keep my hair long, and now you braid it.” I said angrily.
He shook his head, “I want you to be perfect. Perfection in my eyes is just as you currently are, just as Cian is. Both of you are mine to do with as I want but I will not treat you like this all the time. Until this is over you must do as I say without question unless you wish to go to sleep. I will not be defied, especially if it will cost you your life.” He said softly, “Now come, we must feed before going on our way. Cian is waiting for us in the entry room.”
I walked past him and out the door, not wanting to follow behind him. As I walked into the entry room I noticed Cian leaning against the doorframe talking to two beautiful women. The hunger rose within me, I was so hungry as I looked at those two blood filled beauties. Cian smiled at me before whispering something to one of the girls. She laughed before sauntering towards me. I smiled as she began to run her fingers over the lapels of my coat. Cian nodded to me as he took the other girl in his arms. I brushed my fingers over her throat, feeling the blood pump through her. Gently I bent to kiss her throat. She pressed her body against mine as I laid soft kisses on her living skin, looking for the place I wanted to sink my newly formed teeth into. When I found where the pulse of blood was the strongest I gently sank my teeth in. A soft gasp issued from her lips as I began to drink. Wave after wave of sensuous pleasure rolled through me as I swiftly took her life.
“Slow down, let her heart pump the blood into you, she will live longer for your pleasure.” Lucius whispered in my ear.
I hadn’t heard him approach but I suppose that could be attributed to my lack of attention because of the pleasure I was in. I did as he said and allowed her heart to do the work. It struggled for life as I continued to drink, savoring every last drop of her precious blood. I pulled away as her heart began to slow, I didn’t want her to die.
“Finish her.” Lucius hissed. I was tempted to do so, I was still hungry but I didn’t want to kill her, “End it.” He growled, his voice soft in my ear.
I shook my head, “No, I will not kill her. I will not kill.”
“Then I shall do it for you and her blood will still be on your hands. It is your choice.” He spat, “End it or I will.”
I could still taste her on my lips. I wanted more, I wanted to finish what I had started, to abate my hunger. Slowly I returned my mouth to the wounds. One, hard, suck and the flow of blood resumed. As she fell limp in my arms I released her body. Her lifeless corpse crumpled to the ground. I looked down at her, tears beginning to form in my eyes.
“Do not weep for the dead. Your tears will not bring them back to life.” Lucius said softly.
“I took her life.” I said, “Is that what I am now? A taker of life?”
Lucius shook his head but it was Cian who spoke, “No. You may take life but you are so much more than that. You are immortal, filled with the purity of life. Yes, you are a taker of life, a drinker of blood, but you have abilities, powers, that are far better than what you could have possibly had in life.” Lucius began to massage my shoulders, trying to take some of the tension out of them, “Magic is nothing compared to what we can do. Humans and their spells, if they can cast them.”
“I could.” I whispered, “I could cast spells but I would die. I would have died very soon. I know that I would have.”
“You would have been just as the girl that lies before you. Devoid of life, a shell that could never have experienced all that life has to offer.” Lucius said softly.
“There is nothing that can change it. I am a killer.” I said as the realization hit me, “I will not deny my nature and I will not destroy my kind or myself.”
“Good.” Cian said softly, “Now, shall we go find this Remy?”
“I believe that we shall.” Lucius said as he stepped over the girl’s body.
I followed after them, resigned to my fate, and wanting to speak with my sister. I could feel the emotions, the thoughts of the people around me. Cian and Lucius’ minds were closed; I could gather nothing from them. They were blanks in a sea of live rounds. Many of the sights that I now saw were expanded upon by my changed eyes, different than they once had been, better. If I had allowed myself to be I would have been enthralled with everything before me, made to stand in one place and admire every light in every home, every sparkling pool of expensive water. My companions were obviously accustomed to such things so I forced myself to remain passive, immune to the newfound beauty. Lucius looked back at me and smiled.
“You may take everything in when we stop. For now, come here, walk with us, you are not a slave but an equal.” He said without looking where he was going.
I obliged him and quickly caught up. Together, the three of us walked down the brightly lit street. It was difficult to stay focused upon our goal; I couldn’t even concentrate enough to tell them where Remy was. I could still feel him as though I were using magic to do it, I knew where he was. It was a couple of hours before we stopped. I looked around, absorbing my surroundings. Everything was beautiful, alive. The water in the nearby well glittered in the moonlight. It was gorgeous. Everything was filled with life. I wanted to drink it up, swallow it whole. The lights shone brightly from the windows of the stucco homes. They were filled with dancing colors, every color of the spectrum was revealed to me. It danced across my eyes, filled my vision. A cool breeze brushed over my body, tingling against my skin. I brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. I walked over to a small pool of water. Kneeling next to it I dipped my hands into it. Scooping up the crystal clear water I held it up, feeling the silky texture upon my hands. I almost wanted to drink it but I was disgusted by the thought.