"Why did you bring a child here, Larten?"
Mr. Crepsley?
"Mr. Tiny wants her, and so do the Vampaneze. She was nearly killed because of one of my enemies. I barely managed to save her life and I need a safe place to hide her."
What the hell? Why do I need to hide?
"Mr. Tiny? What does he have to do with her?"
"I'm not sure, but whenever Tiny aims to try and get something, I make it my policy to prevent him from getting it."
"That's a dangerous policy."
Why can't I move? And why are they talking about me?! I slowly felt my body wake up finally, numbness followed by a sharp throb of pain caused me to hiss quietly. Though not quietly enough as the conversation had stopped immediately, and two sets of footsteps made their way over. One was heavy and pronounced, the other light and barely there. I shifted slightly and felt my ribs contract in a way, pulling and pushing simultaneously making me wish I could curl up in a ball and just cry. A hand gently placed itself on my curly auburn hair, though it was probably insanely knotted and going to be a monster to brush later, a soft 'shh' left the person above me.
Panic filled my being, as images of Murlough, my father, and someone else filled my mind, my body jolting up and away, immediately into the closest corner of the tent-like area, where I stayed for a few minutes to try and calm down from hyperventilating. Crepsley stayed standing with his hands up in a non-threatening gesture, and the gentleman behind him, Mr. Tall if I remembered right, simply backed away and sat down, just quietly observing the scene in front of him. "You're safe, nobody here will hurt you. That's Mr. Tall, I'm Larten Crepsley-"
"Where are we?!" I wheezed out slightly, my eyes glancing everywhere while never taking Crepsley completely out of my vision, somehow, I dubbed Mr. Tall as completely non-threatening. He took a step closer to me, on instinct I felt myself growl deeply, glaring warningly up at him as my hands curled into a clawing gesture at my sides, ready to attack if he took another step. He paused and decided to not move any further.
"We're in the Cirque's Winter Campgrounds. We will hopefully be staying here for a little while until such time we are ready to move on. Preferably once you're trained."
"Trained for what? Why am I here?"
"Trained to defend yourself, and so you will be protected by more people than just me." He explained slowly. I felt myself slightly begin to relax as he continued to stay in his spot. A presence in my mind gently planted itself next to my mental self, the feeling of safety and protection curling around me and calming me further, until a question occurred to me.
"Why does M-Murlough," I choked on his name, fear welling up within me just from his name, "want me so badly? I don't understand what's happening..."
Mr. Tall quietly and slowly began to talk, carefully considering his words. "There is something different about you, something unnatural compared to their normal biology. However, we are unsure as to what this difference may be."
I slowly pushed myself into a standing position, although unsteady and swaying on the spot, and began to think deeply. Words began to pour out of my mouth, thoughts and curious wonderings. "If there's something that biologically different, then what caused it? He seemed curious enough before I turned, creepy and disturbing but normal, and that Mr. Tiny, he seemed to just be curious about my soul. But... but Murlough, he – he seemed to become obsessed at the cemetery."
"What do you mean? Obsessed, how exactly?" Crepsley asked, his hands lowered as he looked towards me seriously, his emotions normally slightly visible in his eyes were now completely and carefully masked. I swallowed, weird fluttering in my body made me feel even more nervous and hesitant to say what happened in the graveyard.
"Do I really need to say it? Based off my injuries, I had assumed it would be obvious." I whispered unwillingly; his eyes seemed to glitter slightly as I spoke as if hypnotizing me.
That wouldn't be a huge surprise.
I noticed how both him and Mr. Tall tensed rigidly, my own body instinctively tensing and waiting for a punishment for what had happened in the graveyard, despite knowing it wasn't my fault and that considering I'm only half-vampire, just a recently turned one as well, I didn't stand a chance to begin with. Crepsley turned just enough to be able to see Mr. Tall, his face questioning, and after receiving a nod from him, looked back to me.
"You will have to help out around the camp, everyone here pitches in. Of course, not until you're completely healed just to be safe." Mr. Tall spoke to me, I bowed my head in thanks, my still eyeing the vampire in the corner of my eye.
"It would be an honor, Mr. Tall. I'll help out the best I can." I reassured, he smiled slightly in thanks as a flash of relief and pride came and went over Crepsley's almost blank expression.
"There will also be a few rules while we are staying here Miss. Shan." Crepsely told me warningly. I raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise and curiosity at both his tone and the use of my last name.
"If they're reasonable, then I don't see why there might be a problem." I replied nervously, not liking the way his expression seemed cold and somehow mischievous at the same time.
"Rules are as follows; rule 1, you will help out around the grounds whenever it is needed or asked. Rule 2, you will do the chores that I am unable to fully complete during the day. Rule 3, You are not allowed to miss any training, though I will give you the next couple of days to try and get used to having a different biology, so to speak." I nodded; those rules seemed okay if a bit degrading aside from helping out around the campgrounds. "Rule 4, you are not allowed to leave the grounds without someone with you."
"Excuse me?" I exclaimed in surprise. That was not at all what I was expecting. I wasn't good around lots of people, and I preferred to keep to myself. Helping is one thing because I simply get told what to do and possibly how to do it, however being forced around people I don't know, nor trust, is like asking a regular person to walk down the street naked!
Okay, maybe not that dramatic but it still felt the same.
"And if I just want some time on my own without you or someone I neither know or trust, where should I go then? Hm?" I sassed, and I have to say, as good as it felt to stand up for myself, I also regretted it. His gaze hardened, I felt my courage sizzle into nothing, and my body shake ever so slightly.
He could probably see it.
Damn him.
"You will also be sharing a tent with myself. There are no currently available spaces-"
"And nobody is comfortable with a vampire, no matter what they say." I muttered. I might not have too much experience with socializing with people, but enough books have been written and read that I understood what being a vampire would influence around people. His eyes narrowed at my interruption; however, he did nod in acknowledgment of my statement, knowing that I knew and would understand others reactions to me.
"Now, it's been a long night, for both of us. I will wish you a good night Mr. Tall and thank you for allowing us to stay." Crepsley expressed his gratitude. Mr. Tall nodded towards both him and me, a small welcoming smile being sent towards me. I felt my lips twitch slightly and smiled softly in return. Crepsley allowed the small exchange before nearly barking out a "Come."
"Yes, Master." I murmured quietly under my breath, feeling as if I was a dog on an invisible leash. I noticed his shoulders tense and then forcibly relax, a smirk plastered itself on my face in realizing that I might've just said a trigger word that could hopefully annoy him. We walked through the grounds, some people ignoring us, a few nodding to him, and then others glaring at me unwelcoming. While I knew this would happen, it was still very uncomfortable, and nerve-wracking. Especially since a lot of the ones who stared or glared at me stopped their conversations and watched us walk past. Quickly, I moved up to walk next to my mentor, my nerves fried and mood bouncing everywhere, all I wanted was some peace and quiet. He glanced at me, a frown slightly marring his features, but with the sudden position change, I noticed he had scars on his face. 4 of them. 3 in a downward slash from just under his left eye, and another going from his left temple and almost reaching his jaw.
Someone got him good...
And for some reason it made me angry.
"We are here, there is a bed set up for you in the second door on your left, this is the main sitting room." I gazed around in awe, the colors of maroon, blood red, black, orange, along with blackout curtains along the windows, a soft black couch, and tucked away slightly in the corner was a mahogany desk with Madame Octa waving through the bars towards me, made the room feel surprisingly home-like. I grinned upon seeing Octa, feeling myself brighten up upon seeing her okay and happy. I quickly walked over and opened the cage, a sound of distressed protest behind me that was promptly ignored, and scooped up the beautiful blue, purple and red spider. She squeaked excitedly towards me, and I cuddled her close to my cheek whispering how happy I am to see her, and that she was okay. I felt myself yawn, exhaustion making itself known rudely amid my reassuring her I was okay, Octa rubbed one of her legs against my cheek and then looked to her cage. I placed her back in, closed the hatch, and turned around.
"You shouldn't do that; she is quite poisonous after all. You could've been badly hurt or killed by her poison." He lectured me. I sighed and turned away (I know it was rude, but I was tired), walking to the room he was lending to me.
"She wouldn't do that, she's too careful, and she likes me." I told him over my shoulder. "I'm going to bed, night."
The last thing I heard was a harsh and annoyed sigh from the sitting room before the door shut, then I quickly locked it. I moved to the bed, frowning as everything caught up to me, I fell onto the bed lightly with the plan of thinking over everything, but once my head settled onto the plain white pillows, my world went dark.
-Line Break-
"My little pereche." A voice cooed at me; its roughness almost silky as it flowed over an unknown word. A slight accent distorted the voice more, rough hands gripped my waist, puffs of air against my neck, a firm lower body pressed firmly against my own. I didn't open my eyes just yet, they felt like there was a fabric tied over them, and my body felt unnaturally cold despite the heat of whoever was on top of me.
I didn't like this.
Something's wrong.
I wiggled a little, a pull on my wrists alerted me to their being tied up, I tried to move my legs, but I could only move them slightly wider or slightly closer. This made me start to panic. I couldn't see, and I could barely move, lips began to trail down my bare skin, proving without a shadow of doubt that I was naked. Claws slightly dug into my waist on both sides, drawing a startled gasp and whimper of pain, I could feel blood dripping down to whatever soft surface was underneath me which left behind a metallic tint in the air.
"Let me go!" I pleaded to whomever was on top of me, his rough and slightly maniacal laugh made my stomach clench and turn, nearly tossing my cookies, so to speak.
"But my little pereche, we're having such fun!" He teased darkly, a calloused hand cupped my cheek as lips began to pepper my face with kisses. I jerked my head away, a shout of 'don't' escaping my mouth before a groan was heard as he forced my face to meet his in a hungry and forceful kiss. I kept trying to pull away, but his unusually sharp teeth hurt, nicking my lips and whispered in a language I didn't understand as he ground his hips into me.
"Let me go! Please stop!" I begged, tears wetting the blindfold as I managed to jerk my head away from his grip, his mouth trailing down to my neck.
"Why must you fight me pereche? Nobody else will ever care for you, nobody will ever come for you, you are mine. Always and forever. I won't use you like those filthy vampires will." A dark chuckle had my fear shooting up, nearly making me delirious. Then a light was suddenly blinding me, the rough cloth covering my eyes now gone. I whimpered from fear curling through my body as I was terrified, I knew who had me in their grasp, but as my eyes adjusted and looked up to the man assaulting me, all my mind could do was freeze.
Murlough grinned, pleased at whatever look I was giving him.
Something in me clenched and fear finally choked a sound out of my throat.
I screamed.