The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 34/Malphas

I had one of those OMG-WTF moments silently to myself and quickly knelt and looked down like the good familiar I was pretending to be.

"This one has a quite a tongue on her," said the Vampire behind me.

"Quite a tongue? Really? I might have use for that" said Malphas looking down. His gaze felt like a barn full of rocks on me. He tapped the books with his toe. Malphas shared fatures from Sadismann, sharp face, strong jaw, clean features. He was disturbingly young.  Unlike Sadismann his hair was dark nearly the color of midnight. He wore an animal skin over his shoulder giving his broad shoulders the sensation of being a Mountain Gorilla under them. He towered over us.              . 

"Are you carrying those for your master?" he asked in a particularly medieval version of the black tongue.

"If it be pleaseing you master, they are for my benefit. We are travelers being sent to the sisterhood of the wheel. We thank you for rescuing us" I said back in the same language. 

"Why did you say you were glad to be with me?" said Malphas.

I looked at the floor "By your grace master. We are..., we wanted to defect from Sadismann's power, we were searching for you and were captured by the first earth army human-flesh-scum. Our gratitude at our delivery knows no bounds."

Malphas's feet moved to the other. "She has been taught well" he around then his voice turned to me he lifted my finger "Can you write as well as read?"

"Yes Master," I said. A plan had formed in my mind, pretend like we were looking for Malphas join him then get out as soon as possible.

"You can read, but can you count?" said Malphas squinting.

"Well enough," I said.

"Can she?" said Malphas looking at Cub/Isha.

"No master," I said. It wasn't worth lying he could test her "but she knows enough to make pens, grind ink, search for paper."

Malphas looked at us.

"A scribe!" he announced to everyone loudly "we are growing a scribe would be welcome in our court. There is much correspondence to be dealt with. The other one can join the red-tent for her keep"

He held his hand out and I leaned forward and kissed his hand. I had seen this happen to Sadismann enough.

"Good" said Malphas "but don't think I'm as easily fooled as by brother is by a pretty face. You will both wear a collar until I believe you can be trusted. Remember as true lord I will make this coven strong and when it is then your position will be purchased with your loyalty to me."

I wasn't quite sure what to do at this point and then I heard Cub/Isha shift in her dress and I got the idea. I bared my own neck as an offering. Better to be bitten then dead. My heart beat began to ripple as I heard him sniff around me. I could feel the warmth of his face against my bare skin. I wasn't afraid I knew or rather I strongly hoped he wanted me alive. The anticipation of the pain made my palms sweaty. I just wanted him to get it over with. 

"You have the mark of the high-harem. The harem of the Duke. Good, I don't have to rebrand you. When we were young our mother always insisted that we share our kills. We always used to exchange our harems, what was his was mine and what mine his." he said sniffing me.

Then Malphas stood up and almost giggled.

"Well, my brother might be stupid enough to drain the first flesh which walks into his door but I'm not that blind." He announced to the vampires behind me. "They are both of the duke's harem so they are mine. You might care to break that piece of civilization out here in these woods but I warn you now. One would get you five, one or both of them have a rich vein of silver running in their blood. My brother must learn I do not casually walk into a trap no matter how pretty the jaws are decorated."