Beck showed her to a room that was bigger than her own back home, shutting her in silence. She noticed suitcases, bags, and boxes in the far corner. Someone had packed her things. She found the en suite bathroom after taking a quick tour of the meticulous room. She stripped and threw her clothes in a hamper nearby then jumped in the shower. She stood under the water, trying to come to grips with all that happened. She was dragged there by unknown people to find out that the mysterious and aloof Jade West was promised her as payment by her parents. She was promptly seduced and…bitten, marking her as Jade's personal servant. Tori rubbed at the scar where Jade's fangs pierced her skin.
More like a slave, she lamented. When she was done with her shower she had come to the conclusion that she was going to do whatever it took to escape. She couldn't stay. Trina must be worried that she was missing by now. Unless…Trina had known about it. It would explain her recent behavior and her dislike of Jade in general. She dried off with a soft towel and then walked out to get dressed. The uniform wasn't something over-sexualized like a maid costume. That was good. It was more of a simple low cut black shirt that was practically skin tight, showing off her body. Her pants were black and hugged her hips, complete with a belt. The belt buckle was small and round, etched with a JW in an elegant gothic script.
Tori figured it to be Jade's initials, further markings that meant that she was owned by her. Now that she thought about it, Beck had a similar uniform. He wore a black button up with black slacks and a belt buckle that was only marked with a W, which meant he was indeed responsible for adhering to the whole household's requests, or orders, as it was coming from a West. They never asked for anything. Only demanded. Tori slipped on the black socks and shoes then went to the vanity to brush out her hair and pull it back in a ponytail. She left her room and was met by Beck who signaled for her to follow him. She did, and he brought her to the dining room. It was pretty big and lavishly decorated for a house full of beings that didn't even eat food.
"Right on time," Jade's voice addressed her as she came in. Tori turned to watch her enter, dressed in her usual preference for black. She wore a simple tank top that clung to her voluptuous body along with skinny jeans that did the same. A black choker stood out on her pale neck. It seemed to enhance her surreal beauty. She was barefoot, more pale skin standing out against the black.
"We usually reserve this room for our guests' servants to eat. Then, they feed us. A good meal for our humans is a great meal for us. So please, take a seat and enjoy. I'll be around shortly," Jade explained, walking past Tori with a crooked smile on her face. Tori sat down as she was told and Beck served her. She couldn't deny that the food was top notch and tasted so good. When she was done she was taken to a lounge where she sat on a cushy loveseat. Jade came in, her expression slightly agitated.
"My father really likes to piss me off," she grumbled under her breath.
"Is it my place to ask?" Tori spoke up hesitantly while keeping her eyes down on her fiddling fingers. Jade's intense gaze landed on her and she cocked her hip, a hand thoughtfully held under her chin.
"No, it isn't, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. He wants me to mate with the local clan's prince, Ryder, so that our empire can grow. But he's an asshole and I have no patience for him. Now he's being sent over to try and, well, change my mind, if you get my drift," Jade replied, waltzing over to pull Tori up off her perch on the edge of the chair. Jade took Tori's seat and then tugged her down, directing her to straddle her lap. The vampire smiled slyly and wrapped an arm around Tori's middle, holding her close.
"You mean, forcefully?" Tori questioned with a raised brow, clearly uncomfortable with the situation as well as the conversation. She wasn't one to talk about sexual topics but it seemed vampires were highly sexual beings. Jade carefully freed her hair and began running her hand through the chestnut waves. Tori silently marveled at the feeling.
"You really have to ask? There's no other way for us. What we want, we get. And if we're met with force, we fight until one side wins. That's just the way it is," Jade answered. She sounded like she accepted the fact, but at the same time there was a small tone to her voice and look in her eyes that said otherwise. Her hand passed through Tori's hair one last time before stroking her neck. Tori let out her held breath.
"No compromises?" she asked.
"No," Jade answered with a slow shake of her head. She seemed to be absorbed in examining Tori's face now.
"So, um…" Tori muttered, her brown eyes finally meeting Jade's unwavering gaze.
"You're distracting," Jade murmured, smiling when Tori's brows creased in confusion. She didn't have much time to ponder what that meant because Jade's arms tightened slightly around her, a hand going to the back of her head, fingers in her hair. Fangs buried in the previously marked flesh and she gasped, taken by surprise. Unlike the shallow bite before, Jade bit deeper and a spent a moment with her lips clamped over the wound, her tongue brushing it as she took in mouthfuls of blood. A muffled moan reached Tori's ears and she let her eyes fall shut, a euphoric feeling permeating her body and mind. She felt almost numb to the pain now. Her mouth parted slightly with a groan.
Jade instantly reacted, the hand around her middle sliding down to pull Tori closer, hips meeting Jade's. Her hands clenched at Jade's shoulders, blunt nails doing no damage on the vampire's pale skin. Jade pulled back to sloppily heal her and then impatiently brought Tori in for a kiss full of tongue. The metallic taste of blood flooded Tori's mouth but she couldn't find it in her to care. Tori's hands were lost in Jade's hair, her hips stirring. Jade growled against Tori's mouth, fangs nicking the soft skin of her lips. Her own body was responding effortlessly to the hot and bothered human. She had heard that feedings could incite desire and lust but it had never happened to her until now. What was the differing factor that was affecting her this time opposed to others? Tori's legs tightened on her and Jade took the opportunity to stand, holding Tori with a hand at her back and the other under her behind, squeezing.
"You have no shame when it comes to me, do you? You just can't help it," Jade taunted once more, laying Tori down on a settee, her body following with her knees planted on the plush furniture under them. Tori's legs remained hooked on Jade, hugging her close.
"Like you said, it's normal," Tori panted, unwilling to think too much about what she was doing. She let her head fall back so Jade could lavish it in open mouthed kisses. She hummed in delight.
"It sure is," Jade whispered, voice husky. She thrust her hips into Tori and a throaty moan left her lips, spurring Jade on. She dug her pale fingers in the material on either side of Tori's head while the tan fingers did the same to her back. Jade rocked steadily into Tori over and over again, pleasure jolting down to pool between their legs. Jade's kisses fell lower until her tongue was dipping down the valley of sensitive skin disappearing under Tori's shirt.
"Jade...Oh god, Jade," Tori chanted in a wanton manner. Jade rested her forehead on Tori's shoulder and let her body get carried away, rocking into Tori until she came undone once more with a shudder. Tori arched under her, unraveling as well, her legs shaking. Her chest heaved with her labored breaths and she was covered in a light sheen of sweat. Jade raised her head and tossed her hair back over her shoulder so that she could look down at her exhausted servant. Tori's legs slipped from her hips and hung off the edge, her arms doing the same. Jade smirked and licked at her split bottom lip slowly, teasingly. Their noses brushed and their eyes were hooded with relaxation.
"Not bad. You're keeping up. Hopefully I don't wear you out too fast," Jade remarked, satisfaction in every word. Tori had no words to answer with so she just let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. A throat clearing made them both tense. Beyond the scent of their mixed arousal was the familiar scent of the one Jade should have been actively wrapped around. By the sound of it he wasn't too happy to walk in on them. A cruel grin alighted on Jade's face. She kissed Tori, long and hard, tongue searching hers, before removing herself to face Ryder. She licked her lips and then wiped at her face with the back of her hand for good measure. She wasn't sure if she had Tori's blood on her lips but she was milking it for all it was worth, putting on a show to tell Ryder that he would never even come close to having her. Not like how Jade was contemplating with her new servant.
"Jade, what the fuck?" he growled, dark eyes flicking from a dazed Tori to his supposed future mate.
"What? I'm just having a little fun," she replied nonchalantly, accompanied by an uncaring shrug. It was then when Tori noticed the amount of blood staining her skin and shirt from her shoulder. She wondered how much Jade really took. She fell back with a tired huff, a hand on her spinning head.
"That's what you call fun? I can understand needing to get off but you looked like you were actually enjoying it," Ryder spat in disgust. Jade bit her lip, her fang in view, and sauntered up to tap Ryder on the nose.
"That's because I was," she stated, patting his cheek before walking to the door.
"Get over here, Vega," she commanded, glancing back at her servant. Tori scrambled to her feet and scurried over to Jade who smiled appreciatively at her, eyes scanning her from top to bottom.
"Clean up and get some rest. It's late and you need to be recovered by tomorrow," she ordered. Tori nodded and rushed from the room, easily finding her way back since she took the time to remember how to get from one room to another. She had to learn so she might as well start as early as possible. As soon as she was gone Ryder was livid. He always seemed so composed but Jade knew the rage that boiled just under the surface of that carefully placed façade. He could play the chivalrous and charming pretty boy all he wanted, but Jade knew better.
"You haven't even considered the merger have you?" he asked concisely.
"Nope. I see no merger of any kind between us," she replied, glancing down at his midsection before returning to his eyes, a smirk on her face. He snarled and advanced on her before she could strut away. He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to him. He couldn't stand to be dismissed so easily.
"Your father said-" he snarled, but Jade broke his hold and shoved him away.
"Fuck what my father said! I take orders from no one! Not even him! I don't want you Ryder, and I'm not going to force myself into something I'll have to live with until I die!" she shouted defiantly.
"Reconsider, Jade. Just give me a chance. I have to be better than that human," he tried again, voice more controlled than before. She scoffed and wandered to sit back at the scene of the crime, leaning back on her hands.
"Oh Ryder, I'm more than sure that when I fuck her, she'll feel so much better than you," she responded, her tone toxic. He hissed, offended.
"And waste mating with a human?" he inquired, voicing what she was thinking. She remained quiet for some time before raising a taunting brow, the corner of her lips quirking up.
"If that's what it takes to piss you off," she challenged. In a flash he was shoving her on her back, sharp nails cutting into her arms and his hard chiseled frame weighing on her. He was pissed and ready to strike, but all she could think was how uncomfortable he felt on her. She would much rather have Tori's supple and soft body any day.
"Then congratulations. I'm officially pissed off," he growled. Jade hissed and brought her own nails streaking across his face. He roared and reared back. She kicked him off her and got to her feet but he stayed standing and lunged at her. She dodged and they began to circle each other. He jumped at her again and she tried to dodge once more but he quickly changed direction so that he slammed into her so hard they hit the couch and tipped it over, depositing them across the floor. Jade pushed up on her hands and knees, trying to get up. Instantly he was on her, arm around her neck pulling her flush against him.
His other arm wrapped around her middle, his wide hand groping her forcefully. She tried throwing him off but only succeeded in bringing them to their feet where they stumbled until Ryder had her bent over the arm of the loveseat. He held her there and rubbed himself against her, his hips thrusting against her backside. She could feel his hard length and felt like he was nothing but a cat in heat, forcing himself on her. She closed her eyes and let him dry hump her, his grunts and groans angering her further, but she had no choice but to let him have his fun. For now. He was done fairly quickly, coming after a few quicker thrusts. His body went rigid and he twitched against her. He stayed bent over her, breathing heavily.
"Happy now?" she intoned, seconds from ripping his throat out if he didn't get off her. She may even rip off something else if it was still poking at her in the next minute. He chuckled deliriously and grabbed her by the hips, grinding himself into her again. She tensed, a low warning growl beginning in her throat.
"Not until we have a repeat performance, and preferably, with me inside you," he muttered in her ear, taking it in his mouth. She threw her head back, cracking against his skull and sending him reeling, his nose broken and bleeding. She spun around and gripped him by the throat, her sharp nails digging in. He fell to his knees and grabbed at her wrist, but if he pulled her away she would take his throat with her.
"You sick fuck. Let me make this clear, seeing as you don't get it. I hope you enjoyed jacking off against my ass because that's all you're ever getting from me. Try this again, or try to get in my pants, and I'm tearing your overactive dick off!" she threatened, her fangs on display. She closed her hand on his throat slowly until he answered.
"Ah! Ok, fine! Let me go, bitch!" he cried out. She threw him to the floor and turned her back on him, striding to the door.
"You don't know what you're doing, Jade! Your father will hear of this!" he yelled.
"Let him. In fact, be ready to walk in on me fucking Vega so hard she screams my name for the whole house to hear," she retorted. He let out an angered roar but that was all she heard as she had just slammed the door shut behind her. She stomped to her room right across from Tori's and paused. She moved to open her servant's door but stopped with her hand raised. What was she doing? She shook her head and entered her room, deciding on a very hot shower to wipe all traces of Ryder off her before getting to work on some documents. The following first four months were nothing but busy for the young West heir. She dropped almost all human pretenses while she was deep in the politics of her people. She came home most days with a storm cloud hanging over her head. Tori took the brunt of it, rushing to do as Jade commanded and trying to calm her. The human always felt like she was perpetually stuck on a cliff, waiting for Jade to snap and realize she didn't need a human hanging around. It was that train of thought that kept her on her toes. When Jade fed off her it was quick and forceful, taking what she needed and then sending Tori away. They hadn't done anything since those first two times when she arrived. She didn't know if that had been just a Jade thing or if she was holding back.
Not that Tori wanted it, but she was curious none the less. Four more months of this had Jade taking long baths, ordering Tori to set one up almost every day after dinner. It was one of the last things she did before she was sent to bed. Every time she politely turned away as Jade stripped, uncaring if Tori saw. She would slip in the warm water and just relax, clearing her mind of the things she needed to get done. Tori would then read until she was called on again, which was to put on Jade's robe with her head turned away. She might not have seen Jade's face but she knew she was smirking with amusement at her. The last four more months Tori began to fall into a routine that kept her occupied enough, thinking of nothing else, so it almost came as a surprise when Jade joined her at dinner. She was usually absent during that time, only showing up to feed and then disappearing again. But here she was. Tori swallowed her last bite and then looked at Jade, head tilted questioningly. Jade sat hunched over at the head of the table, elbows on the table and fingers steepled. Her intense eyes hadn't moved from Tori the whole time and it was beginning to make her uncomfortable. She shifted her eyes and picked at her napkin before resolving to ask. She opened her mouth but Jade beat her to it.
"I want you to meet me in my room after you help Beck clean up here," she stated, standing to walk out of the room. Tori closed her mouth and tried to think what she had done to make Jade suddenly take an interest in her again. Maybe she wanted to talk? A few days prior she might have. Jade had sat Tori in her lap as she had always done when feeding, and then sunk her fangs in slowly. When she was done she stared into Tori's eyes, looking like she wanted to say something, but shook her head instead. All she said after that was a terse dismissal. Tori made herself scarce and wondered the rest of the day until she fell asleep what it was Jade wanted to say. She eventually shrugged it off and returned to the present, standing to gather her dishes. She did as she was told and then made her way to Jade's room. She stopped by her own to take off her shoes so that they would already be off when she returned to sleep. She then knocked on Jade's door.
"Come in," Jade's solemn voice beckoned to her. She peeked in to see the vampire standing at her window, the moon bright in her room. Her back was to Tori. She stepped in and Jade glanced back at her.
"Close the door," she reminded her servant. Tori did so and then stood at attention.
"What did you need?" she asked. Jade hadn't been completely callous to her. She could be mean and have days when she just blew around the house like a tornado, but in all she wasn't as bad as Tori would have thought. This new side of Jade worried her a little. She didn't know what was wrong or how to help, so she was effectively at a loss.
"Ryder told my father that I refused him," she spoke suddenly. Along with everything else she had to do for Jade, venting was something she had grown used to. Venting but not talking. Jade would sit Tori down and unload all her anger and frustration. Tori would just listen. Jade didn't need a reply. When it was all out of her system she would stomp off, back to work. Tori would then go back to her own work. That was it. But now Jade seemed to want to talk, to do more than vent. She seemed to want a reply too.
"What did he say?" Tori inquired, feeling a little weird for doing so. Jade's proud stance sagged a little.
"He told me I was being a fool. He told me I had better find a mate if I wanted to take over or he would make me mate with Ryder," she answered, irritation clear in her tone.
"Then shouldn't you start lining up suitable candidates and finding one?" Tori remarked. Jade growled and turned to lean on the bedpost, eyes on Tori.
"I should, but I don't want to," she admitted.
"You can't keep telling him no. He's bound to use force sooner or later. Probably sooner rather than later," Tori pointed out. Jade sighed, her fingers running over the carving in the wooden post before she stood a little straighter again.
"Yeah, but the thing is…well, I've been thinking a lot and I realize that I don't think I'll ever accept any them as my mate," Jade confessed. Tori blinked, stumped by what she said. What did she mean? Jade could have anyone she wanted. She could easily go out, pick the perfect match for her, and he would have no complaints.
"But you have to," Tori needlessly stated.
"I know, ok? I know," Jade replied haughtily, sharp nails now cutting into the wood. Tori glimpsed her fangs and immediately shut up. Now was when Jade knew she would hesitate. She knew what she wanted, who she craved. She just had to admit to it, want it, and show her father that it wasn't who the mate was, it was the kind of person the mate made the ruler, and she had chosen after much deliberation. Jade locked eyes with her servant and then let go of the bedpost.
"Come here, Vega," she coaxed gently, gesturing for the human to move closer. Tori gulped, hoping she didn't unintentionally piss Jade off, and walked forward. She stopped a good bit of distance from Jade who just laughed and reached out to grab Tori by the wrist, pulling her a bit closer.
"You've infuriated me a good several times in the past, Victoria. If I wanted to hurt you for it I would have done so already," she commented, voice uncharacteristically soft. It put Tori at ease. It helped that the mention of her full name on Jade's lips was used instead of the usual snap of her surname. It meant that she was in a relatively good mood, which wasn't at all often. Despite that, when Jade raised a hand Tori flinched, still a little on edge. Jade froze for a second and then reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She offered a smile while her thumb stroked Tori's defined cheekbone.
"No need to be skittish. I haven't fed yet. Why don't you get over here so we can get that out of the way?" Jade remarked. Tori took a breath and then stepped even closer. Jade observed her with a steady gaze, her other hand raising to caress down Tori's arm.
"Relax," she mumbled, her voice low but soothing for once. Tori allowed her body to untie itself from the knots she currently held in her muscles. Being around Jade was like walking on eggshells, hoping not to anger her any more than she already was. But being in the presence of a calm Jade was surreal as well as appreciated. The plus side was that she wouldn't be roughly handled this time. That was good because she was still healing from a few old bruises. At that point, it was best to just do as she was told while Jade was in a good mood.
The First of Me - Hoobastank