For Love of a Vampire

Chapter 18

They moved me to a cage all my own. Although still completely exposed to the elements, I was at least spared the aroma and company of the other captives. One of the things I truly had difficulty adjusting to was the poor hygiene habits of the underprivileged, of which I found myself amongst more often than I cared to admit.

Minutes turned into hours as I waited impatiently for Lady Vivian to come riding up on her white stallion and release me from my prison. I spent my time looking into the future as best I could. It was my first attempt since I'd traveled back in time. Prior to my meeting Lady Helen, I wouldn't have been able to do it, but she'd done something to balance me out and enhance my skills. I was actually more powerful than I thought I could ever be; certainly more powerful than I'd been in the future.

Vivian returned angrier than ever. She'd tried to see Duncan, but was sent away without being received. It was the ultimate insult.

"I have never been humiliated thus! The hoddypeak at the door denied me entry. He refused my card. I had no way to inform Lord Duncan I was visiting. Such behavior is unheard of. I cannot believe it!" she ranted.

I could understand why Duncan wouldn't want to see Vivian, but that type of behavior seemed very odd for him. Something was wrong. I simply had to get out of that cage.

"'Tis not the Duncan I know. Something is amiss. If you will let me out I shall investigate the situation. I shall convince him to see you," I said as convincingly as possible in her own style of speech.

At this point, my desire to annoy her was replaced by the hope of allying her. Speaking in my native mannerism would hardly ally her.

She looked at me for a moment before saying, "So now you speak as should be?"

It seemed a little risky to explain that I was trying to speak so she could understand me and possibly like me. As testy as she was, she would have probably taken offence. So, I shrugged my shoulders and remained silent.

After a mini stare down between us, she shook her head and walked away.

I leaned against the bars of my confine and slid to the floor. It was clear there was no dealing rationally with Lady Vivian. I was tired, hungry, and pissed off. Something had to change. I spotted a stone similar to the one she'd had me toss earlier on the ground just outside of the cage. It was a painful stretch, but I managed to grab hold of it and pull it to me. Holding it tightly with on hand, I pounded it as hard as I could against a bar. The sound of rock hitting metal rang through my head. I waited. Nothing. I did it again. Still nothing. Holding the rock as firmly as I could, I walked along the interior perimeter of the cage. The rock to slam against each bar as I did. After a few minutes of this annoying act, a big, burly, and incredibly hairy fellow emerged from what seemed like thin air.

"Stop that racket!" he shouted in a surreal kind of voice that sounded like it originated from somewhere outside his body and then was funneled through his vocal cords.

"I am hungry and thirsty," I said defiantly.

He looked at me quizzically for a moment -as if to decipher just what hungry and thirsty meant- nodded his head, and disappeared back into the nothingness he came from. I was just starting to wallow in self-pity when, with remarkable speed, he returned with a basket. Its contents were hidden by a fabric covering.

After barking for me to step to the back of the cage, he waited for me to oblige and then opened the door just far enough to slip the basket inside. I considered charging him and forcing my way out, but the fact of the matter was that his size equaled at least two of me and I felt weak from hunger and dehydration. I was certain that all charging him would have accomplished was the removal of the much-needed food basket and greater punishment. Since I was trying to shorten my prison sentence, not lengthen it, I stood still at the back of the cage until he'd secured the door once more.