Chained - Zara Novak Page 0,25
my parents. I wasn’t turning my back on God, but faith so strongly reminded me of my oppressive upbringing that it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I guess I was figuring things out on my own and waiting for a good time to go back to him.
Now seemed as good as time as any.
Maybe turning my back in the first place had been my mistake. This was my punishment. I had fallen straight into the arms of the devil. Literally.
“Please God,” I said, my hands in front of me and my knees on the ground. “Send me something to get me out of this darkness. Save me from this monster. Deliver me from evil. Save my soul. Show me a sign. Give me something.”
My prayer ended with a flinch, which came from me reacting to the door opening. I about jumped up to my feet as he walked through the door, his entire aura projecting an air of cool confidence.
“Good evening, slave,” he said, purring the words like a bored housecat. “I had a servant leave you gifts while I slept. Did you find them well?”
I looked down at the tablet on the ground next to me. “I did. You left water too, how thoughtful of you.”
He ran his tongue over his white teeth, seemingly amused by my tone. “It’s probably best for you that we don’t get off on the wrong foot tonight. I’m in a bad mood, and I will take it out on you.”
Try it fucker.
“Yes, master.”
“I believe the tablet is probably simple enough for a girl like you to understand. You can buy luxuries. Your behavior is your currency. You will note you currently have one point.”
“The pillow,” I said. “Give me the pillow.”
He twisted his mouth as if thinking something over. “Sorry, I should say, you had one point. He pulled a small remote from his pocket and pressed a button. “That has now been subtracted for your tone just now.”
I couldn’t fucking believe it. I picked up the tablet and the catalog automatically filled the screen. The number in the top-right corner, my balance, was now at zero. I huffed my disbelief, shook my head and bit my lip. He was something else.
The urge to open my mouth and let him know what I thought was strong, but I bit it all down. There was no point in giving him what he wanted, he was trying to get me riled up. The angrier I got, the more points he took away.
With a calming breath I put on my best smile and nodded. “A very good decision, master. Most brilliant.”
Vincent let out a sharp laugh. “Excellent slave, you are learning very fast. Keep up the good behavior and you might have a point by dawn. As things stand the night is young and we have matters to attend to.”
I swallowed back my fear—which was also part curiosity—and blinked. “Matters, sir?”
“Unexpected visitors,” he said. “A diplomatic concern that I have to deal with. Unfortunately, I need to have something on the end of my arm, so we will have to get you cleaned up and make you presentable. Come with me.”
Victor stepped back so I could walk out the door. I didn’t move straight away, I turned my head and looked at him. He looked back at me with impatience blazing in those crimson red eyes.
“Did I stutter, slave? Hurry up and walk before I make you.”
“You’re not telling me everything,” I said. It seemed obvious enough. Why else would he spring me out of the cell after just one night? What interest did he have in parading me about in front of others? “This isn’t just some routine thing. You need me.”
His eyes flashed with the promising swell of rage. I didn’t particularly want to test him or push his buttons, he was still the one holding all the cards, but the axis of power had shifted ever so slightly—even if only a small amount—in my direction, and there might be something I could do here to give myself an advantage.
The vampire didn’t flash forward as I expected him to. He let out a curt breath and looked at me in a way that inspired utter fear. “You have already delayed me by forty seconds. Waste another and I will double the punishment I already have in store for you. Move. Now.”
This time his tone alone was enough to get me moving. I walked forward out of the cell and stepped into the corridor