The Other Home

Chapter 2

Joseph

The castle felt cold, far from its usual snowy temps, but kind of eerie. I walked through the silence. Munoco stood in front of Elizabeth's door, guarding it. He looked at me, his lips tightening over a forced smile. I knew he wasn't a fan of me, but he put up with me for Elizabeth's sake. He knocked on the door twice and slowly opened it stepping to the side. Munoco's gray eyes stared intently at me as if he wanted to kill me where I stood. A shiver rode down my spine as I quickly slipped past him. He shook his head with a snort. Elizabeth was curled in her bed, she sat up and looked at me her cheeks blushed and eyes swollen. Her curly blond hair that was usually flawless was tough and wild. Her face crumbled into a distressed cry as she flung herself into my arms "Joseph it took you forever."

"I'm sorry" I apologized laying my hand on the top of her head. That's all I could say. My day was wasted passed out in a bed with an abusive ex who I know for a fact Elizabeth hated. I sighed, we walked back to her bed, I sat down as she made herself comfortable laying her head down on my lap. I placed my hand on her head rubbing her scalp. " I couldn't even save him." She hiccupped through her tears. "I was so stupid, it happened so quickly and..." Her voice sunk into an inaudible blubber. I just listened attentively to whatever audible word came from her. No sappy quotes or justifications. I just listened.

"and to think I don't even know who all was involved... gosh I'm so blind!! Who would trust a vampire?!" She vented through gritted teeth kicking her feet beside us.

"Yeah Daniel called me yesterday morning." I announced with a roll of my eyes. She is right to not trust vampires. Yeah, I know it sounds hypocritical because I'm a vampire, I thought, but I wasn't always one.I wasn't born here like the rest, not many know that part about me. I was a pure human from a distant place til I came here. I met Elizabeth by accident being she wasn't supposed to be away from her territory and I so happened to find her. When I shared with her what Sammy did to me and why I was running, she took me in. She told me she could never forgive him; So, how do I say my priorities are messed up and I'm sick? My addiction to the mystical drug Treasure was my god, one that I seek first thing in the morning, worship all day and think on at night. What could you imagine that gives the ultimate high. Consider all drugs of the pure human world pressed into one with perfect timing and stages. The high is beautiful but of course with something so heavenly, the crash is the poster image for hell.

Elizabeth sat up her eyes tight with accusation. "What! Why would Daniel call you?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, " Ida know, he wanted to know where you were. Daniel wanted me to tell you, he "didn't have a part in that"." I glanced over at her, as she considered the message. It almost seemed as if hope was reignited in her spirit.

Next day

"Look what the cat dragged in" Spike announced as his guard escorted me into his office. Spike took a step away from a young male who sat tied to a chair pushed off to the side. His body sat exposed except for the cloth thrown over his lap and black sack pulled over his head. The prisoner trembled but no sound came from him. "What brings you today, Joseph" Spike asked snapping my attention from the tortured victim back to him. He smirked, "Did you want to play with my new friend?" I rolled my eyes, "You're sick, I'm only here to score." He let out a snicker, "I think my friend here would agree." He stepped back to the chair running his fingers up the stranger's arm. He jerked away pulling at the chains in a hopeless effort. Spike's smile widened exposing his fangs as he licked his lips.

 I noticed a slight twinkle in his eye. "You seem to be in a great mood." I sarcastically acknowledged. 

Spike leaned in closely to the stranger bringing his mouth to the base of his neck and slowly sliding his tongue upward. The stranger shivered at the contact trying again to pull away. Spike looked back over at me, "Why wouldn't I be... In fact," he stood up straight after tweaking the mans nipple. "I'm ecstatic. I feel amazing" He flexed