Along came Reid

19. Locked Down

Jamie coughed into consciousness, her breathing catching on the chilled air and fine dust in the dim room she found herself in. With a groan she rose to her knees and sat up, looking around her confined surroundings.

"Glad you came to." Reid remarked behind her. Jamie twisted at the hip to turn around only to find Reid chained up against a concrete wall with shackles binding his hands and feet.

"Oh my G- Reid?! What happened to you?" Jamie exclaimed as she rushed to his side to inspect his bonds. The metal was cold and smooth beneath her fingers but unfortunately it resisted her efforts to pry the cuffs open.

"Easy bean. I'm just getting what I deserve." Reid grinned, dismissing the severity of their circumstances entirely. "The elders thought I needed a timeout."

"What happened?" Jamie asked moving back a step to sit across from him.

Reid's humor sobered and his genial expression faded into concern. "You don't remember?" Reid asked softly. Taken aback by his heartfelt interest, Jaime bit her lip and tried to think hard. The last thing that she remembered was him biting her in the car. There was a bright light, but that was it. "Did I fall asleep again in the car?"

Reid's expression saddened. "Really Bean?" he pressed softly.

"What?" she asked feeling defensive. "I don't remember."

"That's not good."

"What are you talking about?"

"Jamie, think. You really don't remember anything?"

"I remember you bit me."

"After that."

"I fell asleep?"

Reid gave a weighty sigh and shook his head. "You had a panic attack. You really lost it."

"I–what?"

"One of the guys from our welcome party grabbed you. You freaked out and started screaming and kicking. Then, well– I freaked out and I lost it. Someone may have lost a limb, I lost my freedom, the kids and Fido lost us, really we all just lost."

"The boys, Barron–where are they?" Jamie asked with heightened senses when she realized the weren't in the prison with them.

"Honestly, I don't know. I just barely managed to keep a hold on you. They're probably safe. My guess is that they're being sent to a farm."

"Reid–how, why...what happened?" Jamie groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "You said- you said we'd be safe!"

"You are safe." Reid clarified. "Just not comfortable. Look, of all things you have nothing to worry about, your well-being isn't one of them. Trust me, these vampires aren't going to kill off any sources of food. You humans are too rare."

"What about you?"

Reid shrugged. "That's a good question. Honestly I don't know. I have to go before the elders, with you in tow of course."

"Me?"

"Yes you. I told them you were my blood slave."

"R-Reid. What's a blood slave?" Jamie asked tiredly already feeling a headache starting to rise. A wide grin lifted Reid's cheeks.

"It's kind of like a personal snack machine that follows you everywhere you go. Accept they're alive and human like."

Jamie relaxed some with his explanation "That doesn't sound like a slave–"

"Weeeelllll...."

"What aren't you telling me?" Jamie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You aren't really a blood slave. You know how I can influence you to do stuff?"