Chapter 12
Promise to Break
"Where are you right now?"
"At home, Master."
"Stay there. I am coming."
She heard him clap his phone down and immediately felt the inevitable pulse of anxiety.
More than a century and still no one but him can put the fear into me.
Pam made her way over to the fireplace and pressed a hidden button under the mantle to gain access to her 'play room'.
Pity I won't be the one having 'fun' tonight. But I am prepared for my Master…and prepared to take my punishment.
Eric lets himself in with the spare key Pam gave him when she first moved in and he sees her secret fireplace entrance wide open. He has to duck down to fit through the opening but stands up to his full height once inside.
Kneeling before him on the cold concrete is his child clad in nothing but an expression of penitence.
Remarkable!
Eric marvels at the supremacy he still holds over his groveling fledgling. But the table to his right distracts him from Pam. Atop the table she has neatly laid out all of his favorites: metal-tipped cat-oh-nines; wooden flog; tazer-gun; leather restraints; a variety of polished knives and scalpels…
And what is this I see?
On the back corner of the table sits Pam's favorite paddle set apart from the rest of the 'tools'. He smiles to himself.
That's my girl. Wishful thinking, Pam.
After absently caressing her paddle with his fingertips he returns his gaze to the naked vampiress who remains perfectly still and silent on her knees. She has honored him by this simple display of submission and it pleases him to no end. The set and it's elaborate props, she has staged, has sidetracked him from the new purpose for this visit. She even remembered that a lit torch was his preferred 'mood-lighting'.
The sight of bloody lacerations under torch light…Mmmm, you have outdone yourself, my child.
Without a word Eric scoops Pam up into his arms and he retreats from 'the dungeon' to her bedroom. As he sets her down in front of her closet he can see the confusion behind her eyes.
"Master?" but before she can form a further question he places one finger on her lips to hush her.
He reaches into her closet and pulls out her favorite pink satin dressing gown and wraps it around her bare shoulders. This was an overtly human gesture, to cover her nakedness, and it only fueld her unease. Though still puzzled she assists him by pushing her arms through and ties the belt around her waist. He then lifts her up and sets her down on her bed. She is still stiff with apprehension so he lightly presses her shoulder back towards the mountain of soft pillows behind her. She obliges by nestling back comfortably.
What in the hell is he up to?
She is unable to take her eyes of her Maker as he glides around the bed and then gracefully takes his place next to her finding a comfy spot. He turns his head to the left and regards 'His Pam'. 'His beautiful creation'.
"You have done well, Pam. Without having to utter a word you have anticipated my every desire for the perfect night of punishment. Unfortunately…for ME at least…" he leered at her. "I have come here for a different reason. I know I would have enjoyed myself immensely, though, and so you should be pleased that you make your old Master so proud." He places his finger under her chin and gives her a wicked Cheshire-Cat grin. Eric so rarely ever spoke of his pride for her. The words on their own would have made her suspicious but he could not fake the feeling she was receiving through their bond.
Holy shit! He is actually sending pride to me.
Just the idea made Pam squirm with arousal and she knew instantly he could smell her growing wetness.
Shit! I feel like a bumbling fucking amateur when he speaks to me like that!
He grinned even wider at the surge of embarrassment Pam was now sending him. She flip-flopped between shame, lust and anger which made Eric chuckle. He loved that the need to please him was hard-wired into Pam. Not every maker was blessed with such a child as his and he knew he took her for granted far more than he should.
"I still feel, after all this time, that I made the perfect choice when I picked you, Pam. You are my greatest creation." his wicked grin turned down some and he regarded her with admiration. The loving gaze they gave each other was one they hadn't shared in quite some time and it felt so good and comforting to both.
"And now, before I have a spontaneously combusted vampire on my hands I do believe I should get down to business." Pam knew he referred to her increasing desire and would have turned cherry red had she been able to blush. "Besides," Eric dragged his fingers down her right arm ever so slightly brushing the side of her breast. "it would be such a waste to lose these, lovelies."
He needed to but say the word and she would have stripped in a millisecond presenting herself to him on all fours like a bitch in heat. Eric felt the second wave of lust off Pam and decided his teasing would need to cease. He placed his hand on his lap again and stared forward towards the mirrored wall at the foot of Pam's bed.
Clit tease!
"Pam…" He opened his mouth but paused for a moment before continuing. "I am…about to break a promise I once made to you."
As the words took hold, all of her arousal was gone in an instant and was replaced by shock and rage.
No! He wouldn't!
There had only been one promise Pam had ever asked Eric to keep. It had been five decades ago. By vampire standards she had no rights or entitlement to demand he keep this promise but she pleaded anyway…Eric made that promise…he was about to break it and in doing so…break her.
He could feel the panic flowing from her now. For a split second he reconsidered his decision but quickly resolved to stay on course.
She will forgive me. She must.
"Please Master, I am begging you do not make me!" She leaned towards him trying with all her might to send pleading through their bond.
"Pam, I would not do this to you if I felt there were other options available to me. I simply have no one else to talk to on this matter."
She shook her head violently. "There must be someone else, please Eric. Please! This door has been shut for so long now…I cannot! I CANNOT!"
He turned his stern blue eyes on hers again. "You must…and you WILL!"
She knew her protests were now pointless. Suddenly the sequence of events that had led them to this point were laid out in front of her.
Curse Sookie for coming into our lives! I hope she is worth it, you twisted fuck!
But Pam knew the thought was only a rash reaction to Eric's insensitivity. Sookie had saved Pam's undead life as well as other vampires important to her. She sat back again on her pillows and sighed.
"As you know, I was fully aware when you became bonded to…" he looked to her to fill in the blank.
"Torture me, Eric. Threaten me with final death but I will not speak his name. Not to you. Not to ANYONE!"
"Very well. When you became bonded to your human I could sense it, though it was during the period shortly after we parted company." Eric flinched at the anger and hate Pam shot at him but continued. "Pam I need your help. There are things happening with my bond to Sookie that I do not understand. I need your expertise as you know this is the deepest bond I've ever experienced with a human."
"And perhaps my bond did not reach as deep as your's is to Sookie. What makes you think I will know anything more than what you have already experienced?" It was a falsehood and she knew that he knew it too.
"You forget, I know how many years you were bonded to this man and the vastness of your pain when he…"
Pam's first tear of the night was now spilling from her eye…it would not be the last. "…when your bond was…broken." Though at the time they were hundreds of miles apart, he could sense his child's anguish and torment. Without hesitation he had gone to her to help her through the grief. For one whole night he simply held her as she wept. They did not speak once until just before dawn when she begged Eric to never ask her about her bonded or the circumstances of his death.
"I know I should not ask this of you but I implore you to do this for me…for Sookie." He gave her a moment to feel his remorse.
"Tell me…I will try to be of some help, Master." her voice sounded extinguished of life.
He repeated to Pam what he had told Bill about Sookie's condition and the strength with which she was blocking their bond. He also revealed the blood and memory exchange he had forced on Bill as well as the events of earlier that night.
"How was she able to use her emotions as a weapon against me? Did such a thing ever happen to you and your bonded?"
"No."
"Alright." Eric held back the urge to berate her for the monosyllabic answer.
"Bill's putrid blood may have weakened you to her powers."
"Yes I suspect that as well."
"And I wonder whether her fairy essence may have some part in this. You cannot ever underestimate the uniqueness of this bond you share with Sookie. As far as I know there has never been record of a vampire bonding to a part fae human. That will mean there will be many unknowns and oddities about this bond."
He was pleased with Pam's elaboration but these were all things he had already considered. It was quite clear she was trying to steer the conversation away from the painful memories of her own bonded.
"Yes. I am aware that Sookie's fae blood has and will affect the bond but she is still human and I need to know what to expect. Did you ever experience anything beyond shared emotions and sensing one another's presence?"
Her pause indicated that she had.
"There were times when we seemed to almost…switch personas. It was not obvious at first since we were both so alike in many ways but…" Pam stopped and shut her eyes while reliving a moment.
Christ, I still miss him soooo…fucking much! How is it this pain feels as fresh as that first night without him?
She had thought this wound had at least somewhat scarred over but the aching misery, that thinking of him brought to her, was somehow deeper than ever. For the past couple of years, teasing Eric about his feelings for Sookie had been Pam's coping mechanism against the constant reminder of her own bonded now dead and gone. Crimson tears now fell from both eyes. Eric wanted to embrace her and wipe away those tears but somehow knew his touch would not be welcome. He patiently waited for her to recover. "The signs were subtle but we most definitely exchanged personality traits on several occasions."
"Did this last very long? And how frequently did it occur?"
"I don't know Eric!"
I'd rather have a million cuts and rub garlic into them than continue this conversation. I fucking hate you!
"I guess it happened a few times over the ten years we spent together. And it lasted days, not weeks."
"I see."
Hmmm…that would be, to say the least, interesting indeed.
Suddenly Eric froze and held the side of his head with his hand. He groaned with pain and tried to shake it away. Pam watched him curiously but it didn't take long before she comprehended.
"She is dreaming isn't she?"
"Ngh…nightmare. I feel the intense ones." he lowered his hand when the worst was past.
"When did you last give her your blood?" she was fairly certain she knew the answer and already felt regret for not warning him about this earlier.
I might have avoided this most unpleasant talk if I had.
"She last had my blood to heal her wounds after her kidnapping and…" the word stuck at the back of his throat. "…torture. She did ask me for more a few days later but I told her it would not be a good idea as I've never shared so much in such a short time span."
Pam's eyes bulged out and let her mouth gape open.
"What?" he asked as his brow creased.
"She asked you…on her own accord…for your blood…and you denied her?" this was beyond what she had expected and it was bad. Very bad.
"Yes, that is what I said." her tone agitated him but he was eager for the explanation to her shock.
"Eric, no wonder she is fighting against your bond and pushing you away! She, without knowing it, is protecting herself against a very painful future of addiction withdrawal."
Surely she doesn't mean what I think she means.
"We cannot be at that stage already, can we?" he was in shock and disbelief at the possibility.
"She asked you, Eric. She ASKED you for it. Do you not know the implications of that? I had no idea you were so uninformed!"
"You would do well to alter your tone, child!" asserting his authority once again.
Pam huffed and looked away from her master. Eric flexed his upper body muscles and clenched and unclenched his fists.
"You believe she may already be addicted to my blood?"
"She is on the cusp but from what you've told me I would say the damage has already been done." she sneered at him.
Eric growled upwards.
Howl all you want…YOU have brought this on her head. And you sure as hell better make it right!
Pam felt an overwhelming instinct to protect Sookie. She faced her Master and spoke in earnest.
"I want you to tell me why it was that you denied Sookie."
Eric pushed up off the bed and paced the floor. "I already told you." he gestured at her dismissively.
Oh no you don't, you stubborn son of a bitch!
Pam was up and in front of him at vampire speed. She grabbed the sides of his face with both hands.
"You answer me, goddamit!"
"I fucking told you!" his eyes blazed with defensiveness.
"Not good enough, Eric. There is more to it and you know it! You've known it for months now and yet you still try and brush it off. Even now in the face of your Bonded's undoing you will not admit the simple and obvious truth. Surely the Maker that I know and look up to is not such a COWARD!"
Eric seized Pam by the hips and threw her against the wall. She fell to the floor and a vase of pink roses fell from the adjacent shelf and cracked open over her head. The shattered glass sliced open a deep bloody gouge directly above her eyebrow. The water pouring down her head washed away the first traces but the cut began hemorrhaging again. Before she could protest Eric was on his knees lapping at the blood. He had to grasp both her arms to keep her still. Once the wound was sealed he pulled back and removed his hands. Pam slapped him hard across the face without warning. He closed his eyes and allowed her to slap him again. After striking him a few times she couldn't hold back the tears welling up inside her. He drew her into his arms and rocked her for a while. No father wants to see his little girl cry and it was killing him listening to her sobs.
Other than the time after her Bonded's death he had rarely seen Pam cry. Perhaps once or twice he caught her crying over a small painting she had of her human father with whom she had been very close to. When she thought Eric wasn't looking she would clasp it to her bossom and softly weep. But the place that man held in her heart was soon filled by another father. Her Viking father.
Once a 'Daddy's Girl' always a 'Daddy's Girl'.
Pam's 'training sessions' were no exception either. Not even the first time Eric punished her did she shed a tear. Perhaps she somehow innately knew that crying would only earn her a more severe beating. He had never had to threaten her with that. From day one she was an utterly perfect Submissive. And now her Master has accomplished torturing his Submissive with something far worse than whips and restraints.
Perhaps her forgiveness is too much to hope for.
"Master?" she placed a hand on his chest and looked up into his pained eyes. "I know you will do the right thing. Every bond is different and so anything I tell you of my previous bond may be superfluous anyway. All you need to know is that you and Sookie are permanently connected now and you must nurture that connection or risk dire consequences for both of your well-beings. She needs your blood but she also needs to know you will be there for her as her Bonded and her Lover. This means that you will have to stop warring against your true feelings for her." she smirked lightly "God knows I once felt as you do now. How could a mere Breather elicit such feelings in me? It was, at first, a highly distasteful prospect. But Eric," she clenched onto his shirt and pulled herself up closer to his face "you WILL regret it if you lose her and that is exactly what will happen if you don't re-forge this bond before it is too late."
Eric cradled her face in his hand and stroked her hair "Thank you, my child. I know your words to be true and that I have been a fool. As if I were not blessed enough to have found you for a child and companion I have been given yet another gift. Another woman who is a diamond in the rough. I will not let her down. I swear it!" he could feel the approval and pride she felt at his words. Pam cleared her throat and used the tip of her robe to wipe away the lingering blood tears. She stood up and looked down to her Master.
"I am now ready to accept my punishment, Master." she lifted her head with pride and strength.
Eric regarded Pam with a look of astonished horror. He shook his head as he stood and towered over her.
"Pamela! You deserve punishment just as much as I deserve a medal for Vampire of the Year! How can you even think that I would want to punish you after what I have just put you through? Honestly!" the idea detested him but he was even more taken aback by the sudden rush of disappointment and frustration he received from her. It took him a moment but the look in her eyes said it all.
Again…Remarkable!
He was gone and back in less than a second, her paddle in hand. He sat on the edge of her bed and spread his knees apart. Once more he felt the familiar push of Pam's arousal and he locked onto her eyes now filled with excitement.
"Does the thought of me brutally spanking you make you so wet, Pamela?" he knew how much she loved his dirty talk. "Take off your robe." she did so at vampire speed. A blur of pink satin and she was once again naked. "Mmmm-magnificent! I want you to spread your legs so I may better smell your delicious pussy." Her bare toes curled at his vulgar words. She moved her right leg over slightly and he indeed got a much stronger whiff of her lovely juices. "Very nice." he gave her another wicked grin. "Now come closer, my child." it only took her two strides and she was at his side. He tapped the paddle on his thigh twice and seductively gave her the words she had been longing for "You will now bend over my knee like a good little girl." She whimpered and took one step backwards with a fake look of vulnerability and fear. He would humor her and play her game. This was going to be violent but only for the sake of her pleasure. "Pamela…you WILL bend over my knee! I do not wish to force you but I will if I have to. Just know that your backside will suffer more than is necessary if I have to come over there and fetch you. You don't want me to have to paddle you anymore than I have to…do you?"
His words brought forth a strong déjà vu and she could not hold back a smile.
"Ah, I see my warnings do not have the desired effect. Perhaps my actions will speak louder." he lunged at her and took hold of her throat dragging her back towards the bed. She cried again with mocked fright as he thrust her over his knees and held both her hands behind her back in a firm grip. "Such a naughty vampire!" he leaned down and whispered into her ear. "You're going to get what's coming to you." He could feel her longing through the bond practically begging him for her lashes. "Do you know why you are being punished, Pamela?"
"Yes Master."
"I want to hear you SAY IT?"
"I have spoken out of turn on multiple occasions after your many warnings."
"And do you think you deserve your punishment, my child?"
"Oh yes, Master, I know that I do. I am grateful for your guidance and training."
"Excellent! Now…brace yourself!"
It's about fucking ti…Aaaaah!
His first strike was hard and the 'thwack' echoed off her bedroom walls.
THWACK!
THWACK!
After the third, Eric paused and ordered her "Look towards the mirror, Pam. I want you to watch me while I spank you. And I don't need to tell you that the more quiet you are the quicker this will be over. You can be my strong girl, can you not?"
"MmmmHmmm." she nodded to him as she gazed into the mirror. The reflection of her big strong Sire pinning her to his knees with her paddle raised and ready to doll out another series of strokes almost pushed Pam over the edge. She was dripping with wetness that had begun pooling onto Eric's thigh. She suddenly had a vision of Eric with Sookie in the same position and it made her moan with pleasure at the mental image. But without a doubt, her Master would never dream of doing such deeds to his sweet little Southern Belle.
Hmmmm, or would he?
"I will not stop until the first sign that your skin has broken. Then your punishment will be complete."
"Well don't hold back on my account!" she couldn't help herself. He met her eyes in the mirror and accepted the challenge.
Oh it's so ON!