Who Said Vampires Don't Exist? Well, I Did, Until Now

Chapter 45: The Master's Truth

---- Ahhh I'm so excited about this one! Everything that's revealed in this chapter is all twists I planned back in chapter one. I hope you all enjoy it! I'll discuss more at the end of the chapter. ----

The Master didn't appear to acknowledge or care about the fact that he had just walked in on Reuban and me kissing. He stood at the door, unmoving, as we rose from the couch to greet him.

"It's time for what?" I asked in a sheepish voice. An unidentifiable suspicion was gradually sinking into my bones.

"It's time for you to come to know the reason you're here. The reason I sent for you."

This was it; this was what I'd been waiting for all this time.

"Master," Reuban stepped forward with an alarmed countenance, "I need to speak with you first."

I recalled fleetingly that Reuban was planning to speak with the Master on my behalf before I was kidnapped by Claudius. He was planning to run away with me if the Master's plan was in any way harmful.

Now it was too late.

The Master shook his head.

"I know what you want Reuban, and you are not going to get it. Jaime is coming with me alone."

Alone. The word seemed to enclose Reuban and me in its feral grasp and swallow us whole.

"Master, please! I won't allow Jaime to go alone. I need to stay with her. To protect-"

"Silence!" The Master interrupted with such a deafening and commanding voice that my eyes widened in alarm. I felt like a small animal trapped in a corner: no escape. Reuban was frozen as well.

'Jaime.' A voice spoke from inside my head; it was the Master's voice. I tried to keep my expression neutral as the voice clouded my senses. 'You will come with me alone, and you will not be harmed. If Reuban insists on coming with us, I can't promise the same for him.'

There was no arguing with the voice inside my head. The Master had the power to enter and manipulate minds the same as Claudius. There was no way Reuban and I stood a chance against him while alone in this room, and there was no way I was letting anything bad happen to Reuban.

"Master," Reuban began in a terrified voice; a voice I had never heard from him before, "I have to insist that I come along. I promise I won't-"

"Reuban, it's okay." I almost didn't recognize my voice; the tone was complacent and defeated. I couldn't meet Reuban's eyes.

"What? Jaime-"

"I'll be okay. He won't hurt me." I forced myself to sound much more confident than I actually was.

"Jaime." He lifted my head to meet his eyes with a single cold finger under my chin. Even that small touch sent shivers down my spine. I could see now how panicked Reuban was. "Please don't do this."

"I'm okay. I'll be okay." I met his eyes and tried to project only sincerity. "I promise."

I could read his doubt and confusion, but I wouldn't back down from this decision. Whatever I had to face with the Master, I would do it alone.

I alone would face the danger.

In a sudden burst of movement, Reuban grabbed my arm and pulled me into a hard hug. He pressed his lips against my right ear, the one facing away from the Master, and spoke so low that I almost couldn't hear him.

"I'll follow you." He released me as quickly as he'd hugged me.

"Alright, Master. I'll let you take Jaime." Reuban conceded and took a step back. I tried to warn him with my eyes that following us was foolish, but Reuban didn't look my way even once.