Hey everyone! I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update! Life has been hard and I haven't been feeling inspired to write. Things are finally settling and I'm trying to get back into things.
I hope you guys like this chapter!
~DDM~
"No," he shook his head. "You smell so tempting, I forgot myself. I apologize."
I nodded, not sure what to say. I touched my neck again and felt the scratches in my skin; he'd only broken the first layer, just enough to draw blood.
"Can I have a towel?" I asked softly, feeling unsure.
"Of course," he gestured back towards the door to the dining car, charming smile in place. "After you."
"You can go first." I said, and his smile fell.
"Don't want me behind you?" his tone was light, but his eyes were serious, seeming displeased that our little bit of trust had been broken. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"You first." I said again, not willing to give him an inch at the moment. I remembered that saying, 'fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me'.
"Very well," he nodded and turned for the door, I followed him.
I sat in my previous seat as he went to the door that led to the rest of the train. I heard him order someone to bring water and a cloth. After closing the door he came back to join me at the table. We were quiet for a moment when he broke the silence.
"We should reach that town in only a day. The train is suspicious, you and I will ride in on a bike."
"I don't know how to ride." I said, looking at the food on the table.
"You'll ride with me." he said as though that were obvious.
"Oh…okay."
"I won't be behind you," he said, and I looked up to see a slightly playful look on his face, but he hesitated when I didn't return his smile.
"I'm sorry," I said, glancing down again.
"What for?"
"I feel like I'm being unfair," I said. "You've been generous enough to let me come with you, hell, you've been generous enough to let me live. What you did, it startled me, and made me realize I could be in danger if you really wanted to hurt me."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for," he reached over and put a hand over mine. "You trusted me enough to let me touch you, and I broke that trust. You have no idea how tantalizing you smell. I promise it won't happen again and I won't touch you without permission."
I looked into his golden eyes, seeing sincerity there and decided to throw caution to the wind. I'd already done something crazy by even getting on a train full of vampires, I might as well not sow distrust between myself and the only person who would be able to keep me safe here.
"I accept your apology." I said, turning my hand over in his and giving it a small squeeze.
"I appreciate that." He smiled at me again and this time I returned it. There was a knock on the door and a pale man walked in with a small bowl and a white towel. He placed in on the table next to me, never meeting my eyes before he scurried out again.
"You said we'd be close enough to the town to get there by tomorrow?" I asked as I dipped the towel in the water and applied it to my neck. The scratches didn't really need tending to since they were not deep, but I still thought it best to wipe away any left over blood there might be since I'd been labeled as temping.
"Yes, you should eat and then go rest, you've had an eventful day."
I nodded and reached for what he'd said was the roast duck, finding myself suddenly hungry again. As I relaxed, we settled into a companionable silence while we both continued to eat. I savored each bite; I'd never tasted such delicious food and I was looking forward to eating like this more often. Our chewing was broken by the occasional question I had about what was in front of me, there where dishes I couldn't even begin to try and name.
Once we were done eating my host stood and came around to pull out my chair.
"I hope you enjoyed the food." He said.
"I did, thank you." I said as I stood, unsure of what to do next, but my yawn decided for me. With all the rich food, my body was ready for some more rest, even though I was sure it was only around mid-day.
"I'll take you back to your room." He chuckled and gestured for me to go to the door first. I hesitated for only a second before I forged ahead with my plan of trust. I opened the door and stopped when I saw the pale man who'd been in my room passing by. He looked at me with cloudy eyes and leered before he glanced over my shoulder and began to cower, all but running down the hall. I glanced over my shoulder in time to see Black Hat's bared fangs; I hid my smile as I exited the dining car and waited for him to lead the way back to my room.
As we went, we passed several more pale, bald men and they all bowed and scurried out of the way. Only one dared to stop in front of us, bowing low and holding folded black fabric out in front of him; I recognized him as the one who'd brought me to the dining car.
"I washed the Mistresses clothes," he said, face looking down but holding the folded night dress I'd been wearing earlier up over his head.
"Oh," I stepped up next to my guide and took the offering. "Thank you."
The man glanced up at me and I smiled at him, thankful to have something clean to sleep in tonight. His eyes went wide, and I gasped in surprise when he dropped to his knees at my feet and leaned down to kiss my boots.
"I need no thanks, Mistress," he said, looking up at me adoringly. "I live to serve you."
"Um…" I had no idea what to say to that.
"Get up." Black Hat said from behind me. I looked back to see the scowl on his face as he looked at the man at my feet. The man did as he was told but didn't leave like I expected him to. Instead he just stepped aside to let us pass and the small nudge I felt on my lower back had me moving again. "Seems you have an admirer."
I looked up at him as he stepped beside me, glancing back to see the man was following us. We made it to the door I recognized as mine and I opened it to step inside.
"Sleep well," he said, but I was distracted by the pale figure who'd taken up station across from my door.
"Thank you, um…" I hesitated, unsure if I should call him Black Hat. I didn't feel like a name to me. "Is there anything else I can call you besides Black Hat?"
He stared at me for a moment before he smiled, fangs on full display as he looked down at me.
"Gabriel," he said. "You may call me Gabriel."
"Thank you, Gabriel."
"Rest as long as you like," he glanced over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. "Looks like he belongs to you now."
"Belongs to me?" I looked over at the silent man, standing against the wall.
"He's a familiar, its his job to serve vampires."
"I'm not a vampire." I pointed out.
"Hmm." He just shrugged before he bid me good bye again and disappeared down the dark hallway.
"Thank you again for my clothes," I said to the strange man who apparently belonged to me somehow. He just stared at me with wide, pale blue eyes and bowed again.
"Anything for you, Mistress."
I closed the door and locked it, not wanting any unwelcome visitors, though I had a feeling that wouldn't be happening with the guard outside. I stripped out of my dress, laying it carefully on the chair in the corner and pulled on my freshly laundered night dress. I was surprised but please with how comfortable the bed was as I snuggled down into the blankets.
I woke what I was pretty sure was the next morning, blinking away the image of golden eyes, and charming smiles. I sat up, wondering what woke me when I heard a knock on my door. I shivered as I left my warm cocoon, cringing as my feet touched the cold wooden floor. I stepped into my boots, wanting to get my feet off the floor. I hurried over to the door and peeked out, seeing the familiar from the night before. He took his pose, bowing low when he saw me.
"Good morning, Mistress."
"Good morning," I yawned.
"Master said breakfast is ready for you."
"Thank you," I paused. "Do you…do you have a name?"
"You can call me whatever you want," he said earnestly.
"I'd rather call you by your name."
"I am not worthy." He dropped to his knees in front of me, like last night. "Bestowing your voice upon me is enough."
I wasn't sure what to do with that information.
"Please tell me your name." I looked down at him as he reverently stroked my boot.
"Mistress…"
"Your name." I said firmly.
"My name…my name is Milo."
"Thank you, Milo." His eyes raised to mine and began to shine with tears.
"Anything for you," he leaned down and kissed my boot.
"Um…" I took a step back. "I have to get dressed."
"I'll wait here." He nodded.
I closed the door and just stared at the wood, not sure how I was supposed to handle the strange man and his worshipful behavior. Gabriel didn't seem to find anything out of the ordinary about it, so I supposed it wasn't harmful to let the strange being do as he pleased, as long as he didn't try to hurt me somehow. I slipped out of the nightdress and pulled the purple one back on, feeling curious as to why it was even on board. I opened my door after securing my boots and found Milo waiting, just as he said he would.
"I'm ready." I said, and he sprang into action, bowing and gesturing me forward with his long arms.
"This way, Mistress, this way." He hurried off down the hall and I followed him, pausing by a window to see we were moving slowly along a set of tracks, the gentle sway of the cars was barely noticeable now. I turned to follow my guide, seeing he'd gotten a bit ahead of me, and passed several other pale creatures as I hurried to catch up with him. He looked over his shoulder and paused, letting me reach him before he set off again I jumped in surprise and gasped when we passed a familiar who reached out and touched my arm.
"Pretty." He said with a leer, much like the one who had watched me bathe. Before I could say or do anything, a large, pale hand appeared and slammed into the side of the familiar's head. I cringed as his head was slammed into a wall, Milo now standing protectively in front of me, looking furious, pale eyes bright with his anger.
"No one touches the Mistress!" he nearly shouted, pulling the other familiar's head back and smashing it again into the wall. I glanced around and saw there were several others watching the altercation with wide, pale blue eyes. "No one!"
Milo looked around the hall and the others all cowered away from the big man, eyes dropping in respect and fear as he let go of his target and shoved him aside. The others all flattened themselves against the walls as he gently gestured me forward again.
"Mistress is safe with me." he said earnestly. "No one will touch again, come, come."
I slowly began moving again, my heart hammering away in my chest as I passed the other familiars, their eyes not raising from the floor. We reached the dining car and Milo opened the door for me to go in, closing it behind me.
"Are you okay?" I heard Gabriel's voice from across the room. He was sitting in a high back chair next to a small table with baked goods on it. I hurried over and took the empty seat.
"I'm fine."
"You smell of fear, and your heart is still to fast." He said.
"There was a small incident in the hall, it just startled me, that's all." I reached for a muffin when he indicated the table.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"Milo was leading me here, but I got distracted looking out the window and got separated from him. One of the other's touched me, and said I was pretty, but he didn't look like he had any good intentions." I heard him growl lowly and continued. "Milo took care of it, hit the man's head against the wall and said I wasn't to be touched."
"Milo?" he asked, and I looked up into displeased, golden eyes.
"The familiar that guarded my room, that's his name."
"I see."
"What?" I asked, spreading what looked like homemade butter onto the muffin.
"You gave him a name? Is he your pet now?"
"I didn't give him a name," I rolled my eyes. "I asked him and that's the name he gave me."
"Familiar's don't need names." He said sharply, and I looked up, pausing as I was about to take a bite of my food. I slowly lowered it, trying to decipher the look on his face.
"What does it hurt to call him by his name?"
"It gives them a big head. They have their purpose and they don't need names to fulfill them."
We just stared at each other for a moment, silence settling between us. I wasn't sure why he seemed so angry that I was calling the familiar by a name, it didn't seem like a big deal to me.
"You said he belongs to me now," I said after a few moments of silence. "If he does, then I can decide if I want to call him by his name or not. Why does it bother you so much?"