And the moving torches too.”
He nodded. “I am invisible, but not completely. Truth be told I let you escape. This was a lesson.”
“The moral being?”
“That there are things in the castle much more dangerous than I am. Varsi was perhaps the worst and most perfect example. He immediately recognized the power you have inside you. The scent and call of a breeder are very difficult to ignore for a vampire. Despite that he intended to kill you, and he was only seconds away from doing so.”
“You planned to be blinded?”
“That part I hadn’t anticipated. Varsi is a man without character, as I am sure you have already ascertained. There was one thing I didn’t anticipate though, that you would stop to help me. That is very illuminating Miss Chase, and it is the first step in the right direction, to gaining my trust and your freedom again.”
“I have a chance of being free?” I said, not really believing I did.
“Not in the sense you think. You will never go back into the real world without my hand on your shoulder, but if you survive your training and bare me an heir… if you continue to surprise me in the ways that you have. Maybe things will work out well for you.”
“So, I’m still a slave,” I said, swallowing at a lump in my throat.
“One act of redemption does not forgive your transgressions,” he said. “When we are done together there will be no need for locks. An open door will not tempt you, for you will see that you have everything that you already need.”
Whatever sympathy I had felt for the man then vanished. There was no empathy, there was no forgiveness. He was a monster, through and through, even after me saving him. “This moment meant nothing to you.”
“Oh, it did, and you will see a small reward for it, but that does not lessen the punishments we have in store for your original sins. Neither does it delay our schedule. Your training is set to begin. You will be disciplined for the inconveniences you have brought upon me, and then we will get your body ready. It is vital I mark you and claim your body with my scent, so that any other vampire you may meet will instantly know you are mine, forever and always.”
“I won’t go with you,” I said.
A wicked smile came back in answer. He stepped forward and brushed his fingers down my cheek. At once I felt the power of his vampiric ability spread throughout my body. He walked past me, and my body turned on its own accord, like a dog unable to take its eyes from its master.
“You can come willingly or not,” he said. “The choice is up to you.”
“I’m not making anything easy for you,” I growled. “Never again.”
“In that case we’ll take the express route,” he said. In a flash of movement his shadow leapt through the air and swept me off the floor. The next thing I knew we were flying through corridors and up staircases with lightning speed. I barely had time to scream, all I could do was cling on for dear life as shadow and light blurred around me.
We finally came to a stop in a large victorian bathroom. It was modern by design, but gothic and medieval in appearance. Black and white marble ran across the floor and counters. Gold trim accented stone panel walls. A large tub lay ahead of us, easily big enough to hold ten.
He set me down, half-throwing me out of his arms so I had to stumble forward into the room a few steps. With another swipe of his hand the door behind him closed and locked itself.
“What now?” I said, crossing my arms over my breasts. Up until now I had completely forgotten I was almost naked. That was how terrified I had been.
“Punishment.” His eyes flared black. “Cleansing. And maybe even a reward.”
“I will not cooperate,” I said defiantly.
He just smiled. “I do not expect you to.”
I expected him to surge forward again, rushing at me with that impossible speed of his, but this time he walked forward very slowly. The urge to back away from him was strong, I felt like a rabbit staring into the eyes of a tiger, but stronger still was the way he captivated me. I couldn’t explain why or how I felt these things, all I knew is that I couldn’t look away from those hypnotic red eyes.
I hated him