Innocent Darkness

New Kindled Love

As my hand was finally in his grasp, Master Liam took a firm grip on it and and yanked me as if holding me still. "Do you swear to follow my guidelines that I have put forth for those in my pack to follow?"

I was caught off guard as he was serious again like he was trying to initiate me. I tried to pull free and every time I squirmed his grip would become tighter. I felt the back of my shirt become ripped by my top left shoulder and I continued trying to break free of Master Liam's hold on me.

"You will be under our protection, young one, but all that is required of you is your loyalty to us. Once more, Miss Burns, do you swear to follow my guidelines that I have put forth to those in my pack to follow?" Master Liam spoke once more with serious in his voice. He wasn't menacing as before it as if he held a great honor in what he was doing.

"She's a vampire, William, she can't be branded." I heard Thomas speak up.

"Left shoulder, Thomas, you know that." Master Liam responded as his grip tightened around me as if he knew I was going to say yes. "Her kind knows it's rare that we will allow none wolves to become branded. They will know that she has our protection all the time."

"Y-yes." I muttered out trying to gain a better footing since I was taken off balance when I was yanked into Master Liam's grip. "I'll follow and respect whatever y'all do if it means I can stay here." I felt tears starting to run down my face again.

One could argue I just turned my back on my own kind. Being a vampire was indeed way more than I bargained for. I didn't ask to always be killing people wherever I go. I didn't ask to have a giant target on my back because my sire was a Prince AND an Elder vampire. And I certainly did not ask to be some kind of super vampire. In the almost two weeks I've been here, Master Liam and everyone here in this house made me feel welcome and comfortable. If I had to swear some kind of oath to them to make sure I can never be forced to leave, then I'm going to do so.

As soon as I said yes I felt a sharp stinging pain as a hot object is pressed against my skin and I cried out loudly in pain. Master Liam didn't waver his grip on me as the object remained pressed against my left shoulder. The smell of burned flesh was awful as well as the sound of the object being pulled away from my shoulder.

As Master Liam's grip loosened I wrapped my arms around him to keep myself standing. I soon found myself being swept off my feet and being carried.

I woke up to the sound of my phone alarm going off. It was time to roll out of bed to start making breakfast. I went to roll over be instead hit a solid mass instead, causing me to jolt up out of the bed.

"For someone who doesn't breath, you sure do snore loudly." Came from none other than Master Liam.

"Um, sorry?" I said as I rolled out of bed to realize I was in a different shirt. "Um, can you just shut my alarm off, I should go make breakfast."

Before I could move far from the bed I felt Master Liam grab my hand to stop me from leaving.

"You don't have to make breakfast, maybe linger some before I have to leave?" He said softly as if he was attempting to flirt with me.

"This isn't in my head right?" I ask biting my lower lip. "No tricks?" I shake my head to get some self realization. "I don't want to get the wrong impression, or mislead you either."

"Miss Burns, just because I don't swoon over your presence doesn't mean I hadn't been fond of you since I met you. And even if you and Mr. Brugger had managed to work things out I would have still had my fondness for you. What I did the other night was mere curiosity if you may of had similar feelings." He gave a coy smile as I debated if I should take this chance or not. Oh the hell with it.