The Selection.

Part 6

Tonight Corbin was left with a shy and timid girl.

She sat on the bed shaking and clutching her thin robe closed around her.

"What's the matter with you." Corbin said staring at her from his dresser.

She sat still and said nothing.

Corbin knew this girl was one of the only people Aria considered a friend in this dreadful place so he wasn't planning on knocking her out.

"Quit being so scared, I'm not going to do anything to you." Corbin said pouring some water in a glass and handing it to her.

She quickly reached out and gulped it down as if she hadn't seen water for weeks.

When she finished, she looked up at him.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Corbin nodded slightly and turned his attention to a booklet with information of a town far from here.

"Please take me with you too." The girl suddenly said her voice quivering.

"What?" Corbin said looking to the girl.

"I know your taking Aria away from this dreadful place. Please, please take me with you!" She said sobbing.

Not knowing how she knew this or how to respond Corbin looked around the room then back to her to see if this was a trick.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Aria told me. She said she would take me from here with you but she didn't know how without your help."

He considered for a second how he could make this work.

"Fine."

The girl jumped up excitedly and the short robe pulled up high enough to show bruises that covered almost her entire, thin legs.

Embarrassed she sat down again and looked downcast.

"That was from master last night. I didn't get selected."

Maybe Corbin would have to stage an accident for this guy.

Just then a small knock sounded at the door and Corbin could feel his heart flutter.

---

I stood in the hallway shivering, naked.

I was sent to Masters room tonight with another girl.

Together we distracted him enough to slip a pill in his drink.

The door was open in a flash and I felt my body swooped up into Corbin's arms.

Next thing I knew I was standing in the middle of the room and saw Willow sitting on the bed.

I hugged my arms around myself still cold from running through the chilly night air to get back to this wing of the mansion after I creeped out the window to avoid the guards in the hallway.

The cut on my arm that I earned from climbing back in a window just down a few doors from Corbin's room burned as my flesh closed over magically.

I jerked my gaze to the door to see Tabitha standing there with a smile.

Then Corbin flashed over and had me in the bathroom within a blink.

"Hey!" I said giggling as his lips traced along my neck.

"Mmm, I missed you baby." He said lifting me onto the counter a placing his face between my legs.

His tongue traced circles earning him a moan.

I pushed him away.

"My dear, we have guests." I said out of breath and reaching out to bring him against me again.

He kissed up my torso and lingered at the place on my neck where he would mark me.

I grabbed his face to make him look at me.

"Soon." I whispered.

He nodded and flashed from the room, returning with some of his shorts and a shirt.

Once I was dressed we went back out with everyone else.

"Corbin said I could come Aria!" Willow said running over to hug me.

I embraced her and closed my eyes, thankful that such a blessing could even be possible.

"Well you guys better get your head in the game, were not going to be able to just leave. There's the elders, Master, and the King of Steald's army." Tabitha said coolly from an armchair.

"The King of Steald?" Willow said clearly afraid.

"Yes child, he's the man that took you away, fresh from your mother's womb and brought you here to dwell and serve his deal with the vampires.-" She shifted in her chair before continuing to signify she was about to give one of her history lessons.

"- Supernaturals like me, Aria, and Corbin, originate from a place called Devuniake. People here in this world call it the "lake of devils." Devuniake is under control of the vampires, and long ago to avoid war with such a powerful force, King Neilson agreed to host and provide girls for selections just before he had a heart attack and left his only son Tirus, to take the thrown and responsibility of selections. His mother was a vampire however, she was outcast from Devuniake because she fell in love with King Neilson and became pregnant. The rarity of a vampire to become pregnant was extreame and she died giving birth to Tirus. Tirus has not yet taken any girls for selections, he was merely fifteen when he was forced to take power, now just turning 19. His father, thank goodness began preparing him to be king in advance knowing his time was likely limited."

We all just stared at her taking in the information and mentally laughing at how much she talked.

"Ok so! -" Corbin said clapping his hands.

"- Tomorrow, after I've claimed Aria we'll meet in the kitchen where well leave through the delivery doors and steal a few horses from the holding stalls right outside. Pack light and fill this sack with food. We will be able to steal a small horse drawn wagon." He said grabbing saddle bags from under his bed and a large, empty sack.

Then we all took our bags and departed to our chambers to prepare and rest for tomorrow.