The Year 3000

Chapter 30: A Day Out on the Town

Ashton's POV

Previously:

"I thought you were going to be training me?" I said in confusion. Once again, Louis grinned, only this time it looked a lot more sinister.

"I'm here for motivation," he said wickedly, his eyes flashing.

I paled.

This really was going to be Hell.

*****************************

We immediately got to work. First, beginning with how to greet a vampire. I learned not to look them directly in the eyes and to always address them as Master or Sir or Miss. I despised it. Absolutely, one-hundred percent loathed it. Acting the way they wanted me to went against every fiber in my being, against everything I had ever made myself to be.

Louis, however, seemed to be having the time of his life watching me suffer. Every time I made even the slightest infraction he was right there ready to slap, punch, kick, shove, hit, or knee me until I got the skill down.

I was a bloody and bruised mess by the time Louis allowed me to take a break. Well, he had to attend a meeting, so that meant I was free of beatings until he came back. I glanced at the clock and wasn't surprised to find that it was almost noon. Stumbling to the bed, my whole body ached. I was sure to have some nasty bruises in the morning, though a few were already forming. My abdomen ached in all the wrong places, making me wonder if I also had a few cracked ribs as well. The hard cot felt like heaven against my back as I collapsed onto it, not able to hold myself upright any longer. It hurt to breathe. Maxton was silent, standing by his own bed with his head facing down.

"I'm sorry." The words were barely audible, but somehow I managed to catch them, making me glance up at the pale boy. I didn't speak. Maxton's eyes were unreadable as he glanced down at me.

"I-I wish I could do more. Louis trained me, too, you know. He was no kinder with me than he is being with you." His cheek twitched at some painful memory no doubt. "I wish I were brave enough to stand up for you, but . . . the other servant who was training with me tried to stand up for me once when Louis had beaten me for getting something wrong. . . Louis snapped his neck right in front of me." He took a deep breath as I laid there wide-eyed. "A lot of people think that King Harry is the ruthless one, but really it's King Louis. Just do what he says and you won't get hurt," Maxton spoke, shocking me with how much he had revealed.

I'd never once seen him say anything other than what he had to. This time, however, I wished he hadn't revealed as much as he had. My heart instantly began pounding in fear of King Louis. It wasn't like I hadn't already believed he was heartless and cruel, but hearing it out loud somehow made it more true; more real.

I was terrified.

And I hated it.

I hated not being in control, not being sure of everything. Here, where nothing was sure, I felt like I was drowning, gasping for air, and I was running out of time. Louis was taking that time away from me.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that much," Maxton apologized, planting a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "Breathe. Calm down. Panicking won't help."

I didn't realize I was hyperventilating until Maxton said that. It took all of my power to steady my breathing.

"I hate this," I choked out, scolding myself for how pathetic I sounded. I cleared my throat, shaking my head. I was not going to give Louis the satisfaction of knowing how badly he scared me. I needed to pull myself together before he got back.