Craving

7: On The Run

Billy ran through the city. Dodging anyone that came his way and continually looking back to see if he was being followed. He made it to his street as he realized all his stuff was being removed. He saw his landlord as he ran over to him. "Mr. Dubois. I've paid my rent. Please." Billy came to him. His heart raced in his chest, his eyes red and teary. His nose watered. "I am sorry. Someone has paid for your belongings to be moved to Royal Street and has paid handsomely to veto your lease. I am sorry. My hands are tied." Mr. Dubois stated.

Billy scoffed. "You greedy son of a bitch." Billy mumbled under his breath as he began to walk along the street. He looked over at Colette's building as he ran over to it. He got to the front desk. "Is Madam Colette available to see me?" He asked. "One moment." The woman spoke as she left the desk. Some time later Colette came to the front. "Billy, what is going on?" She asked confused. "I need help." Billy begged as Colette nodded her head. She gestured to him to follow her to her office.

They sat in her office as Billy began to tell her everything. "What do you mean?" Colette asked. "It was either allow him to take my blood or he was going to kill me. He was telling me I looked like one of his dead lovers. I don't know what to do!" Billy insisted. "He let you leave?" Colette asked. "I can't go back home; he's paid Mr. Dubois to rent it back out. My belongings are currently being moved to his home." Billy admitted.

Colette sat in her chair, back straight from her corset. "What do I do?" Billy asked. "Come with me to Esme. Maybe there is a way of revoking his invitation to your body. You can stay here. Don't worry about paying." Colette spoke. "You are too kind to me Colette." Billy said. "You're a good friend." Colette insisted.

Near the evening, they went off to Esme's home. The night was quiet; it was not a ceremony night. "You gave permission to a vampire to take sustenance from your body. You can't revoke that. He owns you. You are marked." Esme stated. "There has to be a way." Billy begged. "You are cursed! You better be careful at night, these other vampires around here, they aren't going to like the scent of you. An apex predator in their territory has marked you. They will kill you. You better go back to him." Esme demanded.

Billy felt defeated as he turned and went to leave. "Adhere to this warning Mr. Villeneuve. You keep running and he will come after you. You bring him here; you bring that death upon us, and we will burn you. Do I make myself clear?" Esme demanded as Billy nodded his head. Billy left with nothing left to say.

He stayed the night at Colette's and hatched a plan. In the morning, he bought a horse with the coin he had found and went to ride away. He could sell it at the next town over and use the money to get onto the steamboat. He could continue to head north. He rode the streets as he kept his distance away from Royal Street. He was soon stopped by a familiar face.

"Where are you going?" Rowan called out to him. "I'm leaving. I can't stay here." Billy insisted. "Please you can't leave. You're my favorite." Rowan spoke. "I have something bad after me. I need to go." Billy stated as he tried to leave. "Please, I have coin in my pocket. One more time. Just to remember you." Rowan begged as Billy sighed. He could use the money. He hopped off the horse as Rowan smiled at him. Billy noticed something slightly above Rowan's collar. He reached and moved his collar down. Billy looked in shock. "You're one of his?" Billy asked as his blood ran cold.

Rowan smiled. "It's not as bad as you think it is. It's rather amazing." Rowan insisted. Billy shook his head as he tried to get back on the horse. Rowan grabbed him as Billy kicked. Rowan dropped to the ground and tried to grab for Billy again, but he got on the horse and began to ride off. "He will find you! Wherever you go!" Rowan called out.

Billy continued to ride off. He entered a settlement nearing the evening. He sold his horse, got a ticket on a ferry leaving in the morning and got a room to sleep for the night. He continued to look out the windows of his rooms, terrified that Rowan was right, and Luka would come for him. He was exhausted as he finally crashed for the night. He woke when he heard a creaking noise. His candle was out, and it was dark in the room. He didn't notice anything before he tried to fall back asleep. It was then he heard a footstep. He went to open his eyes and was greeted with a face in the dark and a hand over his mouth.

He tried to squirm, but he couldn't get out of it. "Shhh, no screaming. I will let you go." Luka whispered. Luka took his hand off Billy's mouth as Billy went to shout, he grabbed him again. "Behave." Luka demanded. His tone, darker than before. He finally released Billy as the tears began to fall to his cheeks. "How did you get in here?" Billy whimpered. "I don't need permission to enter a place that isn't a residence." Luka chuckled. "I'm going to take you home now." Luka stated. Billy went to speak, but his eyes closed, and his world went black.

Billy woke in the morning back in his bedroom, covered in the red duvet on the bed. The morning sun peeking into the room. Billy got out of bed and went to the door. He tried to open it, but he was locked inside. He began to bang on the door. "Let me out!" He shouted out, but no one came to his rescue. He continued to beat on the door until he couldn't anymore. He slid down and cried against the door. He felt hopeless.

After several hours, he finally heard the door unlock. He was grabbed by Rowan and another gentleman. He was brought down he hall to the office. The curtains covered the windows, and the room was lit by candles. Luka sat at the desk as they brought Billy in and sat him down. Other people were in the room as well. Two of the women he remembered from the night he caught Luka in his bedroom during the party.

The two men joined the others. They all kept their eyes on Billy. He felt extremely intimidated and uncomfortable. He kept his eyes down as a tear fell from his eye. The room was silent. At any moment he waited to be yelled out as Luka took a breath in, but he spoke. "You're not the first to try this. It's understandable. This is a lot to take in, but this home now. We are family." Luka stated. Billy kept his eyes towards the ground.

Luka got up and walked around the desk. He sat on the edge as he reached his hand down to Billy chin. He went to lift his head as Billy moved his face from his hand. Luka grabbed his face as he made him look. "I can't let you go. Ever since I saw you, I kept dreaming of you. My heart ached for many moons thinking I would never see you again, but here you are. You have no idea what this means to me." Luka said, a red tear streaked down his face as Billy was forced to watch him.

"So, who are they to you? Your staff?" Billy asked as he pulled his face away again, but he kept his eyes on Luka. "They are my lovers, my feeders, the ones that do business for me during the day. They set up my parties. They are so much to me." Luka stated. "There are eight of them, why me?" Billy asked. "As I stated, you look just like him." Luka said as he got up. He walked over to the wall that had a sheet covering something. The sheet had been there the whole time.

Luka took the sheet down and showed a painting of an angel. An angel with a striking resemblance to Billy. "I had this painting commissioned in the late 1400's. The artist, I explained ever detail to him of Chamuel and he made it beyond perfect. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to look at this since it was made. I couldn't stand seeing his face haunting me, but now I can look at it. I can look at you." Luka insisted as he kept his gaze on Billy and back to the painting. "What a day to be alive." Luka mumbled to himself.

"Rich coming from a vampire." Billy blurted out. Luka turned to him and smiled. "I can see the amusement in the statement. You will love it here. Comfortable beds, privacy, lavish parties, food and drinks from all over the worlds; great sex. All I ask is for the companionship and to drink from you to appease my appetite." Luka spoke as he walked back over to Billy and sat on the desk.

"You no longer must sell your body; you don't have to work the fields. You will be rich like you used to be. Live your life just as before. I don't ask for much." Luka mentioned. "But I can't leave and tell you no." Billy stated. Luka shook his head. "I can't let you go. I need you." Luka insisted. Billy gazed upon the other in the room, he could almost sense their upset with Luka's words. It was written on their faces. "Would you really kill me if I walked out? If I look like him?" Billy asked as he looked at the painting.

Luka looked at it and back to him. "I can't, but I won't let you leave either. I will keep you locked in the room every day if I must. I will go in every night and take what I need, just so I can see your face. You have no idea what this means to me." Luka demanded. He looked over at the two men. "Take him back to his room. He's not ready yet." Luka stated. Billy went to get up to attack Luka as Luka put his hand up, and it was as if he was frozen. "You will obey." Luka sneered as Billy was grabbed and taken back to his room, as he screamed and shouted out.