The Last Vampire Hunter

Chapter 54

The first thing I noticed as I came out of the darkness of my deep slumber was that I was laying on something soft. I hadn't slept on anything so soft in over a year. It felt...nice. The second thing I noticed was that it didn't smell like one of the military camps. No smell of soot and magic. There was a faint smell of lavender...and the indoors.

I tested my ability to open my eyes. As they opened a bright light triggered a massive headache and I whimpered as I quickly shut them again. From what I saw I was in a purple and white bubble somewhere on the surface of the sun...well at least that's what it looked like. My eyes didn't get the opportunity to properly focus before I closed them so there wasn't much detail to the fuzziness around me.

I decided it was best if I just lay here a while longer. Eyes closed and focused on breathing and chasing away the migraine that was beginning to settle into the back of my eyes. Deep breaths. I moved my fingers, my toes. I slowly lifted one arm, then the other. I moved my head slowly from one side to the other then lifted my left foot, but when I went to lift my right it felt heavier. I tested it again, shaking it...rattling. A chain.

Slowly, lightly covering my eyes with my hands I opened my eyes, blinked, took a deep breath and looked around. Immediately memories flooded in. I was back at the castle. I was in one of the guest rooms in Philip's apartments. The Lavender room. White walls were softened with purple touches, paintings of lavender fields, a purple upholstered chair, various vases, plant pots, knick knacks all in various shades of purple with touches of grass green.

I went to rise and was greeted with nausea. I took deep breaths and moved my legs off the bed. Sure enough, I had a new accessory. An ankle bracelet connected to a heavy chain that led off the bed.

Slowly memories returned. The Inn, the innkeeper, betrayal. I was drugged. King Nicholae put a new collar on me, a stronger one. My hand went to my neck. Yup. Still there. I peeked around the floor by the bed and saw that my ankle chain was locked onto a small plate that was bolted to the floor by six thick bolts. I didn't even bother trying to pull the chain free. Even if I could have gotten the chain free, where would I go dragging a 18 foot chain with me into the main area of a castle filled with Vampires without my Magic or anyone to help me escape.

I sighed as I stared at the wood floor for a moment before I looked at myself. I was no longer wearing my comfy flannel gown. Instead I wore one of the slips I'd worn to bed as a pet. White. Flimsy. Nearly see through. Hitting just above my knees. I sighed again.

I took a deep breath and rose off the bed. I waited for the dizziness to pass then moved around the room. The chain was pretty long. I could get around the entire room and I could have even gone a little further out of the room if the door wasn't locked...from the outside. No locks on the inside. A pet's room. I went into the bathroom. I passed the shower and toilet but didn't make it to the bathtub before the chain pulled taut. Great. I could shower. Use the toilet and sink. No hot bath. The bathroom was equipped with a toothbrush, hairbrush, some hair ribbons, soap and a small container of the synthetic vampire saliva as well as a small bottle of lavender oil. In the shower I found soap, shampoo and conditioner. Fluffy towels were piled on the counter next to the sink.

I walked out of the bathroom to the closet. It was filled with my old pet clothing. Various white recess and slips, ridiculously short, tight and colorful dresses for when I was out in public with my Master.

Anger, frustration, despair, fear...my soul was a kaleidoscope of emotions that took a turn appearing and disappearing as I processed where I was and what it meant. Finally, after about an hour, I hit acceptance. In the meantime, I had used the bathroom, showered, combed my hair and put it in a neat side braid. I dressed in one of the pale white house dresses and sat back on my bed to wait.