A/N: I'm sorry! I had to leave for camp a day early so I couldn't post on
Friday as planned but I did grab the zip disk this was on in hopes I could
find a comp. Well the boy who works in the boat house had a comp. and
that's where I'm writing from.
Disclaimer: Mary-Anna, Liza, Tia, Tabitha, Mattie, Angel, Taber, the plot, TECC, and all other previously mentioned characters belong to none other than yours truly.
A day had passed by my figuring and still neither Angoris nor Gabriel had come to see me. Not that I minded but I was getting bloody bored. I had healed enough that movement wasn't overtly painful. I was stretching and practicing what I remembered of Karate and Yoga to keep my muscles from cramping and getting stiff. Rap, rap. Rap, rap. Rap, rap.
"I'm awake." I said walking around the cot to the sliding panel in the wall. I picked up my old tray only to nearly drop it again. Instead of Soren looking in at me it was the burgundy beauty, Ravyn. I gave her the old tray and she handed me the new one, which felt considerably heavier than the tray's Soren had given me even though it had the same food on it and was the same kind of tray. "Ravyn. Why are you bringing me my food? You poison it?"
"No. Gabriel'd have my hide if I did." With that she slammed the panel closed rather more forcefully than necessary. I sat down on the floor leaning against the wall. I balanced the tray on my lap and frowned. It was digging into my lap. I ate quickly and set it down. Clink.
"Did that tray just go clink?" I asked aloud. I picked it up and flipped it over. Scratched into the bottom of the tray were the words: Suicide is painless, but so is murder. Two oblongs were duct taped to the bottom of the tray. I peeled away the duct tape on the shorter one to reveal a short balanced dagger. I eagerly pulled back the other piece of duct tape and smiled at the longer well-balanced dagger. I stashed the daggers under the mattress for when Gabriel and/or Angoras decided to 'grace' me with their presence. I closed my eyes and fell into a dream like state but I wasn't quite asleep.
"Wakey, wakey." A deep male voice sung.
"Go away, Vampire." I said not bothering to identify the owner of the voice.
"I don't think we will." He said again. I heaved a sigh and opened my eyes.
"What?" I asked not looking around to locate the Vampires.
"Did Taber send you here to kill me?"
"I don't know, Gabriel."
"I told you she was lying, Master." Angoras' voice said from closer then Gabriel's.
"Why do you care any way? Don't you have punishments for people who hurt Vampires?"
"Yes, and I guarantee you wont like them. So, why not just tell me what you know?" Gabriel said.
"Taber and another Vampire had a plan. The only thing I know about it was that I was going to be sold to you to spy on you."
"Liar." Angoras said.
"If it was Taber who wants me killed then I will make you a Free Blood and set you free." I snorted.
"I don't trust the word of blood suckers."
"You trusted Taber's word." Angoras pointed out tracing his finger over the scars on the right side of my neck. The muscles in my neck tensed but I knew better than to bat his hand away.
"Exactly why I don't trust blood suckers." I worked my hand under the edge of the mattress. I grasped the handle of the shorter dagger and in one smooth movement dragged it out and threw it at where I thought Angoras was. I pulled the other knife out and rolled off the cot landing in a crouch. I jumped up ready to face Gabriel.
"Not a smart move little girl." Gabriel said from behind me. I spun quickly but Gabriel already had a knife drawn. I slashed at him recklessly but he grabbed my wrist and dug his fingers into my tendons forcing me to drop the knife. He pulled me to him and put his knife to my throat. "Have you any idea what the punishment for killing a Vampire is?"
"I can guess." I said my voice quiet. I was afraid.
"You don't have to." Angoras said. With a growl of pain and anger Gabriel released me and turned to face Angoras. Gabriel pulled the dagger from his shoulder and with a knife in both hands advanced on the knifeless Angoras.
"Angoras, my child, you should know by now your strength can never match mine." I grabbed the knife that had fallen at my feet and lunged. My dagger miraculously went where it was intended.
"Angoras help me." Gabriel said in a nearly defeated voice.
"You who killed my family. You who made me the monster I am. Like Hell I'll help you.
"Die God damn you!" I said pulling the dagger out and plunging it in again. Gabriel slumped.
"Twist it around to destroy the heart." Angoras suggested.
"How could you...?" Gabriel never got to finish his last sentence how ever because I had taken Angoras' advice. Gabriel's body hunched over itself sliding to the floor with the dagger still sticking out of his back. He didn't bleed.
"I- I did I? I just killed some one." I said sinking to the floor bringing my knees to my chest I wrapped my arms around my legs rocking back and forth. "I just killed some one." I whispered marveling at this feat as well as fearing myself. I could feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. I sensed more than felt Angoras kneel down beside me. He put his arm around my shoulders and forced me to look at him.
"To quote the Witches; 'One cannot kill what has been dead for centuries.'"
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I sobbed harder. He wiped the tears from my face and held my head between his hands.
"Shhhh. Don't cry. Don't cry. I can't stand it when women cry."
"How can you say that? How can you? Not forty-eight hours ago you were threatening to rape me and beat me and you're telling me not to cry? Well you might be a cold-hearted bastard but I have never killed-"He cut me off by covering my lips with his in a brief kiss. I pulled away agitated that he'd done that just to shut me up.
"Well isn't this a touching moment?" I scrambled up and got as far away from Angoras as possible. This was hard to do because the room was small to begin with and crowded with four people (if you counted Gabriel's corpse) it was claustrophobic. I realized I was staring at Angoras where he was still kneeling on the floor. I tore my gaze away and studied the other Vampire (the living one.) He had waist length black hair; black eyes and Gods forbid a tan? The man was wearing just a pair of pants showing off his physique. He had a coiled whip in one hand and his black on black eyes were sparkling with laughter. I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye and looked just in time to see Angoras stand and bow to the other immortal. The other Vampire simply inclined his head before turning his attention to me. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jaguar Trainer and owner of Midnight." He bowed mockingly to me. He looked at me expectantly waiting for my name possibly rank. "No name?" I glared at him. "Title?" He persisted.
"Slave." Angoras supplied.
"I-"
"Did you kill him, Angoras?" Jaguar asked.
"Yes. I got fed up with the bloody bastard. Am I to be made a Free Blood?"
"Yes you are free to leave." Angoras disappeared with out a word. Jaguar turned back to me studying me. I stiffened and looked down at myself. I felt dirty. I hadn't taken a shower in days my clothes were dirty and my shirt was spattered in my own blood. "So, slave, what did you do to deserve being locked in here?"
"Threw a knife at Gabriel." I answered casually inspecting my fingernails.
"And I thought that was Ravyn's job." He laughed.
"Yeah, well my temper kinda takes control when men make lewd comments about me." He didn't speak for a while and wore the expression of one doing mental calculations.
"Come here slave."
"I am not a slave! Gabriel's dead that means I'm free."
"I'm sorry to shatter your delusions but Gabriel was indebted to me and you'll do nicely as at least half of what he owed."
"But-"
"No buts, slave, come here."
"I have a name." I said crossing my arms over my chest to hide the shaking in my hands.
"You didn't tell me what it was so how am I to know?"
"Angel."
"Fine then, Angel, come here."
"Nope." His eyes hardened.
"If there is one rule that will always apply while you are in slavery it is that your Master is your life. Nothing comes before his wishes and for the time being I am your Master and you will do as I say."
"Make me."
"I doubt you want me to. I will tell you what I tell all my slaves; I give very few orders. If you choose not to do as I ask... well it is your choice."
"What if I don't?"
"Then we will discuss that then wont we?"
"I want to know now."
"You are trying my patience."
"You're playing stupid today I see. I see you're winning as well." I quipped an old line from my middle school years. There was a sharp pain in my arm as he twisted it around.
"I haven't killed a human in many years and I'm not planning on starting now. I am however going to sell you the first chance I get and your new Master or Mistress will not like your lip I'm sure."
"Fine. Let go of me." He released me and I stumbled backward not hitting the wall as I had expected but instead I nearly tripped over a settee.
"Jaguar I- oh sorry Jaguar I didn't know you were busy." A boy about my age was looking from me to Jaguar's obvious anger. He inclined his head ad started back out the door.
"Eric, wait."
"Yes?" He asked stepping back into the room head tilted to the side awaiting orders.
"Give her a tour of the building. Show her where she will be staying and tell the seamstress to get her a couple of outfits she wont need many she's not staying long."
"Yes, Jaguar." He held the door open for me and followed me out. "I haven't Jaguar that angry since before Jeshicka was killed." Eric commented blandly. "Midnight is laid out with four wings and a court yard in the middle. Which by the way is locked and no one is allowed in. This is the North wing it is mostly offices and sitting rooms. The South wing is where you'll be staying with the rest of the people. The West wing you'll probably want to avoid that's where the Vampires stay. The East wing is where the kitchens and-"
"Why are you here?" I asked cutting him off. He stopped and turned to face me startled.
"What?"
"I noticed you didn't call Jaguar 'Master.' He also obviously trusts you. Why are you here?"
"You didn't call him Master either." Eric pointed out.
"Blood suckers don't deserve our respect." He winced as though one of the Vampires might hear me and come running.
"Vampires deserve utmost respect. Especially if you want to live longer than a few days." He said curtly.
"Then why didn't you call him Master?"
"That's different."
"How so?"
"I can see why Jaguar was angry." He muttered.
"Well?"
"Jaguar treats me as a son."
"Treats you as a son?"
"I am still his slave if that's what you're getting at."
"Why are you here though?"
"I haven't any where else to go."
"Why?"
"My family was killed." What he didn't say hung in the air and it was all I could do not to finish his statement.
"How long have you-?"
"Seven years."
"How old are you?" Her seemed to think about this for a moment before answering.
"Around eighteen. Why are you asking so many questions?"
"Curious."
"How old are you?" I bit my lip not sure.
"Nearly seventeen."
"Why are you in the trade?"
"He killed my family."
"Who did?"
"Blood sucker."
"Which Vampire?"
"Dunno."
"How did you end up with Jaguar?"
"I can remember He killed my family and then I lost a couple of days. I got sold to Taber and he kept me for a while." I decided not to elaborate on that. "Then he gave me to Gabriel. I kinda threw a knife at Gabriel he got mad beat me up and put me in a room with no doors. Him and Angoris came to annoy me and Angoris killed Gabriel." I took a deep breath. "Enter Jaguar center stage." I finished quickly.
"Have a name?"
"Quite a few actually which would you like. My given name? That's Leah Mary Jackson. Taber called me Azure for a few days then decided he like Angel better. Then I told another person at Gabriel's house my name is Angelica Kayla Ornn."
"Which do you like best?"
"Angel is fine. Do you know if its day or night?"
"Night of course." He glanced at his watch compulsively and swore. "This door is my room the room you'll sleep in is three down. I'll see you later." He called the last over his shoulder running in the direction we'd come from. I walked to the room he mentioned and opened the door. There were two sets of bunk beds. Three were done up with bedclothes and sheets and blankets simply sat folded on the fourth. I decided it was mine. I fixed the blankets climbed up and tried to sleep.
Later...
"Angel?" I opened my eyes and looked at the ceiling. I was where again? Midnight.
"Eric?" I asked sitting up and dangling my legs off the bunk.
"Can I come in?" I glanced around seeing no one else I answered.
"I don't see why not." The door opened and he stepped in. He walked over and stood in front of me hooking his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. "Where did you have to go any way?"
"I had to get Jaguar's permission."
"For what?"
"It's not important. You'll need an assignment while you're here."
"Ok."
"We always need cooks and people to help out side though I sincerely doubt Jaguar would let you out. Other than that there's pretty much bleeding and cleaning."
"Bleeding?" I felt my stomach churn at the word.
"To feed the Vampires. Most people don't really like he job but it doesn't involve much work and..." He trailed off eyes darting from my face to the scars on my neck. I ran my fingers through my hair self consciously letting it back down so it covered my neck.
"No. It wouldn't be a good idea."
"Huh?"
"I said it wouldn't be a good idea."
"Why do you have an illness? Vampires usually can tell and-"
"I can cook."
"But-"
"It's none of your business. What do you do here any way?"
"I run the place." He replied quite casually.
"I thought Jaguar ran it?"
"Jaguar runs it sure finances and stuff but Jaguar is only one person and he has most of the town to run as well. I make sure things get done. I show people around I go to town and get food I order supplies I make sure the meals are ready on time I make sure the Vampires get fed." He shrugged. "You know stuff like that. Behind every orderly Vampiric house hold is a mortal."
"All that stuff might not get done if you weren't here?"
"I went away for a while once four years ago Jaguar says it was chaos and indeed it still was a mess when I got back."
"You can run away from here?" I asked surprised.
"No." He said flatly.
"Then how did you leave?"
"With Turquoise Draka."
"Who?"
"A former hunter."
"Former? Is she dead?"
"In a sense."
"You speak in riddles. Ok so you left with her... How did you get out?"
"We went into the court yard and climbed over the wall then she fought off a cougar shape shifter and Lord Daryl. Then we scaled a fenced and walked all the way out of Jaguar's territory then she called a... friend and he picked us up."
"Sounds iffy."
"It was."
"Earlier you said the court yard was locked how did you get in?"
"You still need to go visit the seam stress and Tia..." He said motioning for me to get down.
"You're dodging my question." I said jumping down.
"So? You dodged mine." He asked steering me out the door and into the hall.
"That's personal."
"So is this besides you can't escape."
"Can't I?"
"Impossible Jaguar could have you back a few minutes after he knew you were gone."
"How?"
"He owns you." Eric replied simply.
"I don't understand. How does that make it so he can find me?"
"It's a connection Vampires make with umm the people that belong to them. It works similarly with blood-bonds."
"I'll be expecting Taber any minute now then." I said under my breath.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why would you be expecting Lord Taber?"
"I told you it was nothing now drop it."
"Alright, alright don't bite my head off." He said holding his hands up in front of him palms out. He stopped and opened a door holding it ajar so I could precede him. I walked in and a lady sitting and stitching on a sewing machine looked up.
"Hello Tabitha." Eric greeted.
"Hello, dear." She said smiling at him. "Who's this?"
"This is Angel. Angel, Tabitha."
"Hi Tabitha." I said politely.
"Nice to meet you, Angel. What can I do you for?"
"Angel needs a few outfits. Nothing new she's not supposed to stay long."
"Really?" Tabitha asked interest piqued.
"Yeah. Apparently the blood sucker, Jaguar, doesn't like me much."
"You shouldn't speak of Vampires that way. Particularly your Master." Tabitha said crossly.
"Tabitha was born here so I wouldn't bad mouth the Vampires around her." Eric whispered leaning toward me when Tabitha had disappeared into a door on the far wall.
"Thank you, Mister twenty-twenty hind sight." I whispered back as a few bars of humming drifted into the room. A few minutes later a now smiling Tabitha walked back into the room carrying a cloth bag with folded clothes in it.
"Here you are, Angel, dear" She said kindly my mistreatment of Vampires apparently behind her. She gave me the bag.
"Thank you, Tabitha."
"You're welcome. I'll see you later Eric. Good bye." She said shooing us out of her workroom.
"This way." Eric said taking my elbow when I turned the wrong way. "If you go that way you'll shortly be in the west wing."
"Oh." I felt stupid. We walked for a while in silence before Eric spoke quietly.
"Taber, you are blood-bonded to him aren't you?"
"What?" I asked surprised that he had figured it out. "How did you guess?"
"Firstly when you spend a lot of time around Vampires you can sort of feel their auras I guess. Yours felt kind of funny. Second you said being a bleeder wasn't a good idea. You were fearing blood sickness. Thirdly you got defensive about it when I asked. Fourthly your comment about Taber coming after I explained about why you couldn't escape from Midnight. After that it just took a bit of time for the pieces to fit."
"Damn. Please," I implored. "Don't tell Jaguar." He frowned.
"I don't-"
"Please?" I pleaded. He bit his lip still frowning at me.
"I'll try. I don't see why not though he wouldn't be mad."
"Just don't."
"As you wish. Tia was born here as well. She was the result of a blood-bonded human and a mortal girl. Needless to say I'm sure you two could have long lovely talks about how evil Vampires are."
"Ok."
"In here." He said opening another door. A girl about fourteen was dancing around listening to a set of headphones. She was actually working but it appeared to be a very dull job that the music made much more enjoyable. He cleared his throat loudly. Tia took no notice. "Tia." Again she remained oblivious. "Tia!" Eric shouted. Her eyes darted over to us but she pretended she hadn't noticed. "Tia take those head phones off now or I'll have you scrubbing floors for a month!" She pulled the head phones down around her neck.
"Yes boss!" She said saluting him with a cheeky grin. Eric smiled at her.
"How many times have I told you that just because I got you the God damned head phones that doesn't mean you can use them to ignore me?" She counted on her fingers.
"Twelve?" She suggested.
"Wrong as usual, Tia. This makes it an even twenty." She seemed to notice me for the first time and drank in my horrible appearance.
"Does it? You know I have trouble counting past ten with out taking off my socks." She said lifting up her leg and wiggling her stocking covered toes at him.
"Very funny. You are, by far, a much better mathematician than most of the people here and you know it." Eric sounded a very odd mixture of a parent and older brother.
"Don't I just? Any way what's up who's she?"
"This is Angel and she needs some stuff."
"Lemme guess tooth brush, soap, washcloth, shampoo, hair brush, hair ties and... tampax." She said the last grinning even more and then laughing as he colored slightly.
"You're right of course now get them." She started to walk off into the large room. "Put them in a bag." He called after her. His only reply was Tia's howls of laughter. She came back a couple of minutes later with another cloth bag which she handed to me before putting her head phones back on and dancing off into the shelves going back to her job. Eric and I walked down the hall until he stopped in front of a door. "I have to go for a few minutes but I'll be back. I suggest you change into fresh clothes or all the girls in the kitchens will be gossiping about you." With that he turned and left. I went into the room and opened the door to what I assumed was the bathroom. I started a shower and took off my dirty clothes. Something about the way Eric ordered people around casually bothered me. Perhaps it was the complete lack of threat his voice held or mayhap it was because his suggestion were- just that- suggestions. I finished getting ready just in time to hear a knock on the door.
"Angel?"
"One second." I crossed the room and opened the door. I went out into the hall and leaned against my now closed door. Eric looked slightly shocked at my appearance. "Like what you see?" I teased hopping to get him to quit starring at me. His eyes snapped up to my face and his cheeks flushed.
"You clean up nicely." He commented before directing me down the hall and through a lobby-like room to the next hall. This must be the south wing. "This is the south wing." Eric told me answering my thoughts with uncanny accuracy. He walked with me down the hall to nearly the halfway point. He opened a door and inside was not the chaos I expected but rather an organized chaos. I was about to turn and question Eric but his footsteps were already echoing far down the corridor. I shrugged and stepped into the room the door clicking shut behind me. One girl traded off stirring a large pot with another so she could collapse into a chair. The girl in the chair noticed me and beckoned me over. I made my way over slowly nearly colliding with a girl carrying a tray full of cooling pastries.
"You are... new slave of Jaguar's, yes?" She asked her accent thick and her words choppy. Clearly English was far from being easy for her to speak.
"Yes." I replied simply.
"My name is Mary-Anna. You are working here?" She asked gesturing to the kitchen.
"Yes. I am Angel." Her face brightened and she smiled at me.
"From heaven?" She pointed upwards. "To save us?" I shook my head.
"No. Sorry but it is only my name." Some one grabbed my arm and spun me around before I could catch more than a glimpse of Mary-Anna's broken look.
"Are you supposed to be here?" She asked. I nodded mutely. "Good come help me." She led me over to a counter with a cutting board set in and pointed at a knife chained to the counter then at a pile of vegetables that needed to be cut.
Later...
I sat on my bunk listening to but not participating in the gossip of the girls I shared my room with. Of course I use the term girl loosely as one of the 'girls' was possibly old enough to be my mother and another looked young enough to have not started her period yet. The third was Mary- Anna who could easily have fallen into any age group as she went from chattering like a thirteen-year-old to gazing at the younger girl with that 'mother' look in her eyes.
"Where did Jaguar get you?" The younger girl, Liza, asked what had been troubling the older girls with very little tact. It took me a moment to register that she had been talking to me.
"Don't you think it rude to ask such personal questions?" The older woman snapped hiding the curiosity in her eyes.
"Sorry, Mattie." They got side tracked with a lecture on etiquette, which I had no desire to listen to.
"Where I've been and how I got here has nothing to do with the person I am." I said loudly disrupting Mattie's lecture.
"I am very sorry I only wished to speak to you and it was the only question I could think of to initiate conversation." Liza answered stumbling over the larger words managing to sound both contrite and utterly innocent of the real world.
"It's ok. I've been rather on edge since I was torn from the world I knew and dropped rather cruelly in a heap into this one. Indeed I always thought it would be cool if Vampire myths were real but now that I find that I would have preferred my blissful ignorance."
"It must be rough to be here and not have grown up in it as I have." Liza said softly climbing up to join me on my bunk. I blinked slowly a few times.
"You grew up here surrounded by Vampires?"
"Yes. You can get along with them all right if you remember titles and manage to stay out of their way when they are angry but Jaguar is nice and Turquoise is as well. She used to be a slave until Jaguar changed her just after Jeshicka left. She also was a Hunter in Bruja and we all wonder why he made her into something he hated especially since he loves her."
"Wait do you mean Turquoise Draka?"
"Of course." Our conversation died quickly after that and the next thing I knew I was drifting into a dream filled sleep.
A/N: I luv you all so Review or Flame! (I expect some nice reviews when I get back home or no chappies for you!) (--)
Disclaimer: Mary-Anna, Liza, Tia, Tabitha, Mattie, Angel, Taber, the plot, TECC, and all other previously mentioned characters belong to none other than yours truly.
A day had passed by my figuring and still neither Angoris nor Gabriel had come to see me. Not that I minded but I was getting bloody bored. I had healed enough that movement wasn't overtly painful. I was stretching and practicing what I remembered of Karate and Yoga to keep my muscles from cramping and getting stiff. Rap, rap. Rap, rap. Rap, rap.
"I'm awake." I said walking around the cot to the sliding panel in the wall. I picked up my old tray only to nearly drop it again. Instead of Soren looking in at me it was the burgundy beauty, Ravyn. I gave her the old tray and she handed me the new one, which felt considerably heavier than the tray's Soren had given me even though it had the same food on it and was the same kind of tray. "Ravyn. Why are you bringing me my food? You poison it?"
"No. Gabriel'd have my hide if I did." With that she slammed the panel closed rather more forcefully than necessary. I sat down on the floor leaning against the wall. I balanced the tray on my lap and frowned. It was digging into my lap. I ate quickly and set it down. Clink.
"Did that tray just go clink?" I asked aloud. I picked it up and flipped it over. Scratched into the bottom of the tray were the words: Suicide is painless, but so is murder. Two oblongs were duct taped to the bottom of the tray. I peeled away the duct tape on the shorter one to reveal a short balanced dagger. I eagerly pulled back the other piece of duct tape and smiled at the longer well-balanced dagger. I stashed the daggers under the mattress for when Gabriel and/or Angoras decided to 'grace' me with their presence. I closed my eyes and fell into a dream like state but I wasn't quite asleep.
"Wakey, wakey." A deep male voice sung.
"Go away, Vampire." I said not bothering to identify the owner of the voice.
"I don't think we will." He said again. I heaved a sigh and opened my eyes.
"What?" I asked not looking around to locate the Vampires.
"Did Taber send you here to kill me?"
"I don't know, Gabriel."
"I told you she was lying, Master." Angoras' voice said from closer then Gabriel's.
"Why do you care any way? Don't you have punishments for people who hurt Vampires?"
"Yes, and I guarantee you wont like them. So, why not just tell me what you know?" Gabriel said.
"Taber and another Vampire had a plan. The only thing I know about it was that I was going to be sold to you to spy on you."
"Liar." Angoras said.
"If it was Taber who wants me killed then I will make you a Free Blood and set you free." I snorted.
"I don't trust the word of blood suckers."
"You trusted Taber's word." Angoras pointed out tracing his finger over the scars on the right side of my neck. The muscles in my neck tensed but I knew better than to bat his hand away.
"Exactly why I don't trust blood suckers." I worked my hand under the edge of the mattress. I grasped the handle of the shorter dagger and in one smooth movement dragged it out and threw it at where I thought Angoras was. I pulled the other knife out and rolled off the cot landing in a crouch. I jumped up ready to face Gabriel.
"Not a smart move little girl." Gabriel said from behind me. I spun quickly but Gabriel already had a knife drawn. I slashed at him recklessly but he grabbed my wrist and dug his fingers into my tendons forcing me to drop the knife. He pulled me to him and put his knife to my throat. "Have you any idea what the punishment for killing a Vampire is?"
"I can guess." I said my voice quiet. I was afraid.
"You don't have to." Angoras said. With a growl of pain and anger Gabriel released me and turned to face Angoras. Gabriel pulled the dagger from his shoulder and with a knife in both hands advanced on the knifeless Angoras.
"Angoras, my child, you should know by now your strength can never match mine." I grabbed the knife that had fallen at my feet and lunged. My dagger miraculously went where it was intended.
"Angoras help me." Gabriel said in a nearly defeated voice.
"You who killed my family. You who made me the monster I am. Like Hell I'll help you.
"Die God damn you!" I said pulling the dagger out and plunging it in again. Gabriel slumped.
"Twist it around to destroy the heart." Angoras suggested.
"How could you...?" Gabriel never got to finish his last sentence how ever because I had taken Angoras' advice. Gabriel's body hunched over itself sliding to the floor with the dagger still sticking out of his back. He didn't bleed.
"I- I did I? I just killed some one." I said sinking to the floor bringing my knees to my chest I wrapped my arms around my legs rocking back and forth. "I just killed some one." I whispered marveling at this feat as well as fearing myself. I could feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. I sensed more than felt Angoras kneel down beside me. He put his arm around my shoulders and forced me to look at him.
"To quote the Witches; 'One cannot kill what has been dead for centuries.'"
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I sobbed harder. He wiped the tears from my face and held my head between his hands.
"Shhhh. Don't cry. Don't cry. I can't stand it when women cry."
"How can you say that? How can you? Not forty-eight hours ago you were threatening to rape me and beat me and you're telling me not to cry? Well you might be a cold-hearted bastard but I have never killed-"He cut me off by covering my lips with his in a brief kiss. I pulled away agitated that he'd done that just to shut me up.
"Well isn't this a touching moment?" I scrambled up and got as far away from Angoras as possible. This was hard to do because the room was small to begin with and crowded with four people (if you counted Gabriel's corpse) it was claustrophobic. I realized I was staring at Angoras where he was still kneeling on the floor. I tore my gaze away and studied the other Vampire (the living one.) He had waist length black hair; black eyes and Gods forbid a tan? The man was wearing just a pair of pants showing off his physique. He had a coiled whip in one hand and his black on black eyes were sparkling with laughter. I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye and looked just in time to see Angoras stand and bow to the other immortal. The other Vampire simply inclined his head before turning his attention to me. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jaguar Trainer and owner of Midnight." He bowed mockingly to me. He looked at me expectantly waiting for my name possibly rank. "No name?" I glared at him. "Title?" He persisted.
"Slave." Angoras supplied.
"I-"
"Did you kill him, Angoras?" Jaguar asked.
"Yes. I got fed up with the bloody bastard. Am I to be made a Free Blood?"
"Yes you are free to leave." Angoras disappeared with out a word. Jaguar turned back to me studying me. I stiffened and looked down at myself. I felt dirty. I hadn't taken a shower in days my clothes were dirty and my shirt was spattered in my own blood. "So, slave, what did you do to deserve being locked in here?"
"Threw a knife at Gabriel." I answered casually inspecting my fingernails.
"And I thought that was Ravyn's job." He laughed.
"Yeah, well my temper kinda takes control when men make lewd comments about me." He didn't speak for a while and wore the expression of one doing mental calculations.
"Come here slave."
"I am not a slave! Gabriel's dead that means I'm free."
"I'm sorry to shatter your delusions but Gabriel was indebted to me and you'll do nicely as at least half of what he owed."
"But-"
"No buts, slave, come here."
"I have a name." I said crossing my arms over my chest to hide the shaking in my hands.
"You didn't tell me what it was so how am I to know?"
"Angel."
"Fine then, Angel, come here."
"Nope." His eyes hardened.
"If there is one rule that will always apply while you are in slavery it is that your Master is your life. Nothing comes before his wishes and for the time being I am your Master and you will do as I say."
"Make me."
"I doubt you want me to. I will tell you what I tell all my slaves; I give very few orders. If you choose not to do as I ask... well it is your choice."
"What if I don't?"
"Then we will discuss that then wont we?"
"I want to know now."
"You are trying my patience."
"You're playing stupid today I see. I see you're winning as well." I quipped an old line from my middle school years. There was a sharp pain in my arm as he twisted it around.
"I haven't killed a human in many years and I'm not planning on starting now. I am however going to sell you the first chance I get and your new Master or Mistress will not like your lip I'm sure."
"Fine. Let go of me." He released me and I stumbled backward not hitting the wall as I had expected but instead I nearly tripped over a settee.
"Jaguar I- oh sorry Jaguar I didn't know you were busy." A boy about my age was looking from me to Jaguar's obvious anger. He inclined his head ad started back out the door.
"Eric, wait."
"Yes?" He asked stepping back into the room head tilted to the side awaiting orders.
"Give her a tour of the building. Show her where she will be staying and tell the seamstress to get her a couple of outfits she wont need many she's not staying long."
"Yes, Jaguar." He held the door open for me and followed me out. "I haven't Jaguar that angry since before Jeshicka was killed." Eric commented blandly. "Midnight is laid out with four wings and a court yard in the middle. Which by the way is locked and no one is allowed in. This is the North wing it is mostly offices and sitting rooms. The South wing is where you'll be staying with the rest of the people. The West wing you'll probably want to avoid that's where the Vampires stay. The East wing is where the kitchens and-"
"Why are you here?" I asked cutting him off. He stopped and turned to face me startled.
"What?"
"I noticed you didn't call Jaguar 'Master.' He also obviously trusts you. Why are you here?"
"You didn't call him Master either." Eric pointed out.
"Blood suckers don't deserve our respect." He winced as though one of the Vampires might hear me and come running.
"Vampires deserve utmost respect. Especially if you want to live longer than a few days." He said curtly.
"Then why didn't you call him Master?"
"That's different."
"How so?"
"I can see why Jaguar was angry." He muttered.
"Well?"
"Jaguar treats me as a son."
"Treats you as a son?"
"I am still his slave if that's what you're getting at."
"Why are you here though?"
"I haven't any where else to go."
"Why?"
"My family was killed." What he didn't say hung in the air and it was all I could do not to finish his statement.
"How long have you-?"
"Seven years."
"How old are you?" Her seemed to think about this for a moment before answering.
"Around eighteen. Why are you asking so many questions?"
"Curious."
"How old are you?" I bit my lip not sure.
"Nearly seventeen."
"Why are you in the trade?"
"He killed my family."
"Who did?"
"Blood sucker."
"Which Vampire?"
"Dunno."
"How did you end up with Jaguar?"
"I can remember He killed my family and then I lost a couple of days. I got sold to Taber and he kept me for a while." I decided not to elaborate on that. "Then he gave me to Gabriel. I kinda threw a knife at Gabriel he got mad beat me up and put me in a room with no doors. Him and Angoris came to annoy me and Angoris killed Gabriel." I took a deep breath. "Enter Jaguar center stage." I finished quickly.
"Have a name?"
"Quite a few actually which would you like. My given name? That's Leah Mary Jackson. Taber called me Azure for a few days then decided he like Angel better. Then I told another person at Gabriel's house my name is Angelica Kayla Ornn."
"Which do you like best?"
"Angel is fine. Do you know if its day or night?"
"Night of course." He glanced at his watch compulsively and swore. "This door is my room the room you'll sleep in is three down. I'll see you later." He called the last over his shoulder running in the direction we'd come from. I walked to the room he mentioned and opened the door. There were two sets of bunk beds. Three were done up with bedclothes and sheets and blankets simply sat folded on the fourth. I decided it was mine. I fixed the blankets climbed up and tried to sleep.
Later...
"Angel?" I opened my eyes and looked at the ceiling. I was where again? Midnight.
"Eric?" I asked sitting up and dangling my legs off the bunk.
"Can I come in?" I glanced around seeing no one else I answered.
"I don't see why not." The door opened and he stepped in. He walked over and stood in front of me hooking his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. "Where did you have to go any way?"
"I had to get Jaguar's permission."
"For what?"
"It's not important. You'll need an assignment while you're here."
"Ok."
"We always need cooks and people to help out side though I sincerely doubt Jaguar would let you out. Other than that there's pretty much bleeding and cleaning."
"Bleeding?" I felt my stomach churn at the word.
"To feed the Vampires. Most people don't really like he job but it doesn't involve much work and..." He trailed off eyes darting from my face to the scars on my neck. I ran my fingers through my hair self consciously letting it back down so it covered my neck.
"No. It wouldn't be a good idea."
"Huh?"
"I said it wouldn't be a good idea."
"Why do you have an illness? Vampires usually can tell and-"
"I can cook."
"But-"
"It's none of your business. What do you do here any way?"
"I run the place." He replied quite casually.
"I thought Jaguar ran it?"
"Jaguar runs it sure finances and stuff but Jaguar is only one person and he has most of the town to run as well. I make sure things get done. I show people around I go to town and get food I order supplies I make sure the meals are ready on time I make sure the Vampires get fed." He shrugged. "You know stuff like that. Behind every orderly Vampiric house hold is a mortal."
"All that stuff might not get done if you weren't here?"
"I went away for a while once four years ago Jaguar says it was chaos and indeed it still was a mess when I got back."
"You can run away from here?" I asked surprised.
"No." He said flatly.
"Then how did you leave?"
"With Turquoise Draka."
"Who?"
"A former hunter."
"Former? Is she dead?"
"In a sense."
"You speak in riddles. Ok so you left with her... How did you get out?"
"We went into the court yard and climbed over the wall then she fought off a cougar shape shifter and Lord Daryl. Then we scaled a fenced and walked all the way out of Jaguar's territory then she called a... friend and he picked us up."
"Sounds iffy."
"It was."
"Earlier you said the court yard was locked how did you get in?"
"You still need to go visit the seam stress and Tia..." He said motioning for me to get down.
"You're dodging my question." I said jumping down.
"So? You dodged mine." He asked steering me out the door and into the hall.
"That's personal."
"So is this besides you can't escape."
"Can't I?"
"Impossible Jaguar could have you back a few minutes after he knew you were gone."
"How?"
"He owns you." Eric replied simply.
"I don't understand. How does that make it so he can find me?"
"It's a connection Vampires make with umm the people that belong to them. It works similarly with blood-bonds."
"I'll be expecting Taber any minute now then." I said under my breath.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why would you be expecting Lord Taber?"
"I told you it was nothing now drop it."
"Alright, alright don't bite my head off." He said holding his hands up in front of him palms out. He stopped and opened a door holding it ajar so I could precede him. I walked in and a lady sitting and stitching on a sewing machine looked up.
"Hello Tabitha." Eric greeted.
"Hello, dear." She said smiling at him. "Who's this?"
"This is Angel. Angel, Tabitha."
"Hi Tabitha." I said politely.
"Nice to meet you, Angel. What can I do you for?"
"Angel needs a few outfits. Nothing new she's not supposed to stay long."
"Really?" Tabitha asked interest piqued.
"Yeah. Apparently the blood sucker, Jaguar, doesn't like me much."
"You shouldn't speak of Vampires that way. Particularly your Master." Tabitha said crossly.
"Tabitha was born here so I wouldn't bad mouth the Vampires around her." Eric whispered leaning toward me when Tabitha had disappeared into a door on the far wall.
"Thank you, Mister twenty-twenty hind sight." I whispered back as a few bars of humming drifted into the room. A few minutes later a now smiling Tabitha walked back into the room carrying a cloth bag with folded clothes in it.
"Here you are, Angel, dear" She said kindly my mistreatment of Vampires apparently behind her. She gave me the bag.
"Thank you, Tabitha."
"You're welcome. I'll see you later Eric. Good bye." She said shooing us out of her workroom.
"This way." Eric said taking my elbow when I turned the wrong way. "If you go that way you'll shortly be in the west wing."
"Oh." I felt stupid. We walked for a while in silence before Eric spoke quietly.
"Taber, you are blood-bonded to him aren't you?"
"What?" I asked surprised that he had figured it out. "How did you guess?"
"Firstly when you spend a lot of time around Vampires you can sort of feel their auras I guess. Yours felt kind of funny. Second you said being a bleeder wasn't a good idea. You were fearing blood sickness. Thirdly you got defensive about it when I asked. Fourthly your comment about Taber coming after I explained about why you couldn't escape from Midnight. After that it just took a bit of time for the pieces to fit."
"Damn. Please," I implored. "Don't tell Jaguar." He frowned.
"I don't-"
"Please?" I pleaded. He bit his lip still frowning at me.
"I'll try. I don't see why not though he wouldn't be mad."
"Just don't."
"As you wish. Tia was born here as well. She was the result of a blood-bonded human and a mortal girl. Needless to say I'm sure you two could have long lovely talks about how evil Vampires are."
"Ok."
"In here." He said opening another door. A girl about fourteen was dancing around listening to a set of headphones. She was actually working but it appeared to be a very dull job that the music made much more enjoyable. He cleared his throat loudly. Tia took no notice. "Tia." Again she remained oblivious. "Tia!" Eric shouted. Her eyes darted over to us but she pretended she hadn't noticed. "Tia take those head phones off now or I'll have you scrubbing floors for a month!" She pulled the head phones down around her neck.
"Yes boss!" She said saluting him with a cheeky grin. Eric smiled at her.
"How many times have I told you that just because I got you the God damned head phones that doesn't mean you can use them to ignore me?" She counted on her fingers.
"Twelve?" She suggested.
"Wrong as usual, Tia. This makes it an even twenty." She seemed to notice me for the first time and drank in my horrible appearance.
"Does it? You know I have trouble counting past ten with out taking off my socks." She said lifting up her leg and wiggling her stocking covered toes at him.
"Very funny. You are, by far, a much better mathematician than most of the people here and you know it." Eric sounded a very odd mixture of a parent and older brother.
"Don't I just? Any way what's up who's she?"
"This is Angel and she needs some stuff."
"Lemme guess tooth brush, soap, washcloth, shampoo, hair brush, hair ties and... tampax." She said the last grinning even more and then laughing as he colored slightly.
"You're right of course now get them." She started to walk off into the large room. "Put them in a bag." He called after her. His only reply was Tia's howls of laughter. She came back a couple of minutes later with another cloth bag which she handed to me before putting her head phones back on and dancing off into the shelves going back to her job. Eric and I walked down the hall until he stopped in front of a door. "I have to go for a few minutes but I'll be back. I suggest you change into fresh clothes or all the girls in the kitchens will be gossiping about you." With that he turned and left. I went into the room and opened the door to what I assumed was the bathroom. I started a shower and took off my dirty clothes. Something about the way Eric ordered people around casually bothered me. Perhaps it was the complete lack of threat his voice held or mayhap it was because his suggestion were- just that- suggestions. I finished getting ready just in time to hear a knock on the door.
"Angel?"
"One second." I crossed the room and opened the door. I went out into the hall and leaned against my now closed door. Eric looked slightly shocked at my appearance. "Like what you see?" I teased hopping to get him to quit starring at me. His eyes snapped up to my face and his cheeks flushed.
"You clean up nicely." He commented before directing me down the hall and through a lobby-like room to the next hall. This must be the south wing. "This is the south wing." Eric told me answering my thoughts with uncanny accuracy. He walked with me down the hall to nearly the halfway point. He opened a door and inside was not the chaos I expected but rather an organized chaos. I was about to turn and question Eric but his footsteps were already echoing far down the corridor. I shrugged and stepped into the room the door clicking shut behind me. One girl traded off stirring a large pot with another so she could collapse into a chair. The girl in the chair noticed me and beckoned me over. I made my way over slowly nearly colliding with a girl carrying a tray full of cooling pastries.
"You are... new slave of Jaguar's, yes?" She asked her accent thick and her words choppy. Clearly English was far from being easy for her to speak.
"Yes." I replied simply.
"My name is Mary-Anna. You are working here?" She asked gesturing to the kitchen.
"Yes. I am Angel." Her face brightened and she smiled at me.
"From heaven?" She pointed upwards. "To save us?" I shook my head.
"No. Sorry but it is only my name." Some one grabbed my arm and spun me around before I could catch more than a glimpse of Mary-Anna's broken look.
"Are you supposed to be here?" She asked. I nodded mutely. "Good come help me." She led me over to a counter with a cutting board set in and pointed at a knife chained to the counter then at a pile of vegetables that needed to be cut.
Later...
I sat on my bunk listening to but not participating in the gossip of the girls I shared my room with. Of course I use the term girl loosely as one of the 'girls' was possibly old enough to be my mother and another looked young enough to have not started her period yet. The third was Mary- Anna who could easily have fallen into any age group as she went from chattering like a thirteen-year-old to gazing at the younger girl with that 'mother' look in her eyes.
"Where did Jaguar get you?" The younger girl, Liza, asked what had been troubling the older girls with very little tact. It took me a moment to register that she had been talking to me.
"Don't you think it rude to ask such personal questions?" The older woman snapped hiding the curiosity in her eyes.
"Sorry, Mattie." They got side tracked with a lecture on etiquette, which I had no desire to listen to.
"Where I've been and how I got here has nothing to do with the person I am." I said loudly disrupting Mattie's lecture.
"I am very sorry I only wished to speak to you and it was the only question I could think of to initiate conversation." Liza answered stumbling over the larger words managing to sound both contrite and utterly innocent of the real world.
"It's ok. I've been rather on edge since I was torn from the world I knew and dropped rather cruelly in a heap into this one. Indeed I always thought it would be cool if Vampire myths were real but now that I find that I would have preferred my blissful ignorance."
"It must be rough to be here and not have grown up in it as I have." Liza said softly climbing up to join me on my bunk. I blinked slowly a few times.
"You grew up here surrounded by Vampires?"
"Yes. You can get along with them all right if you remember titles and manage to stay out of their way when they are angry but Jaguar is nice and Turquoise is as well. She used to be a slave until Jaguar changed her just after Jeshicka left. She also was a Hunter in Bruja and we all wonder why he made her into something he hated especially since he loves her."
"Wait do you mean Turquoise Draka?"
"Of course." Our conversation died quickly after that and the next thing I knew I was drifting into a dream filled sleep.
A/N: I luv you all so Review or Flame! (I expect some nice reviews when I get back home or no chappies for you!) (--)