Atherian Tales: The Blood Slave

Chapter Four

Note: This chapter is the shortest chapter so far still, I hope everyone who reads enjoys it and it continuing to enjoy the story so far. Thanks!!!

I had to leave Amily, to get away from her blood. The way it would waft past my senses and grab ahold making a home inside me. She smelled like strawberry fields. I frequently dream of such fields. I dream of basking in the sun with a warm breeze blowing the scent of warm strawberries past my face. The mixture of the vines and fruit being intoxicating so much that I can't help but take a bite. I know Amily will soon be bonded to Lord Thelios as his blood slave but even now I can't be tempted by her blood or I may bring the actions of my dreams to reality.

As I sat on my bed trying to cleanse my senses of Amily, I hear a knock at my door. It's guardsman Charles. The tall brute of a man stood in his armor on the other side of the door holding a letter.

"For you sir." He said as he extended the hand holding the note. As I opened the paper, I released a long exhale laced with annoyance.

Elias,
Please grace me with your presence in the east wing sunroom once you are finished showing Amily her chambers. It is urgent I assure you.

Your Lord,
Thelios

What could he possibly want now, I asked myself as I crumpled the paper, throwing it to the floor. When I entered the east wing sunroom, once again, I was welcomed with a book flying across the room and slamming into the wall next to my head.

"Elias....I apologize." Lord Thelios said through heavy breaths. "Did Amily find her chambers suitable?"

"I believe so.... is something wrong?"

"What makes you believe something is wrong commander?"

Maybe the fact that I almost had my head severed from my body by a flying book. The fact also that his hair was a mess and his collar and cuff links were undone. Lord Thelios was usually a well groomed man, always making sure his attire was properly fitted. Seeing the lord in this state meant something was the matter.

"It's Amily. More directly, it's her blood. She is a pure blood but I know not what kind. Her blood smells and taste like nothing I have ever had the graces to try before. Her blood is different on many levels and I cannot figure out what it is."

"Is she a virgin? Is that what could be different?"

"I'm most certain she is a virgin but most pure bloods are, that is not what makes her different. I know she hasn't had a drop of the tonic, her blood is clean. This one is special Elias and I need to know why." Lord Thelios had a particularly taste in pure bloods. He would accept them and drink from them occasionally if their blood had been tainted in the past, meaning they were given the tonic but then weened off it but he mostly craved the clean pure bloods. Because of his particular taste, it was no surprise that each pure blood he's had has been clean. For Lord Thelios to say Amily harnessed the same usual properties as the rest, but yet still be very different, meant she might be something new and it also meant, she could be valuable.

"Is this why you asked me here? To tell me your new pet is a special breed?"

"No. I asked you here because I have chosen you to be her escort. You are the only one I can trust to protect what is mine without hesitation." I couldn't blink once he spoke. How could I avoid Amily and her blood when I was to be with her almost every waking moment. Bringing me back from my trance, Lord Thelios spoke again.

"I can trust you?"

"I am the commander of your guardsmen, of your army, how am I to tend to my duties if I am babysitting?"

"You will not be babysitting Elias, I have told you, you are to be..

"An escort, I know." I interrupted. "To me there is no difference." Before I spoke again I swallowed my words. Lord Thelios glared at me, giving me a look that told me I was treading on thin ice. I have seen the lord execute men for less than simply disagreeing with him. With heavy brows and nostrils flared, I shook my head in agreement and walked out the door, slamming it behind me.

Returning to my room, I passed Anna and her escort Jerric. The usual combination of smiles from the girl and frowns from Jerric were replaced by excitement and worry.

"Hello Elias!" The little blonde blood bag sang as she walked past.

"She's a pretty little creature isn't she?" She asked as she giggled. "Jerric told me how you saved her from guardsman Smith. Does this mean you are changing your views on us humans?" Great, I thought, Anna has met Amily. I'm sure she's told many stories, or at least her ideas, of what goes on her at the Imperial castle.

"No."

"Then why such an act of heroism?"

"I was upholding my duty." I was beginning to think the girl's game of twenty questions was getting irritating and irrelevant.

"Jerric." Was All I had to say before he took the girl by the arm and pulled her down the hallway. I could see the blonde hair bouncing around through the air until they turned the corner. I shook my head at the two of them until I entered my room and was back in my original position on my bed. It wasn't long before I drifted off to sleep.

I could feel the earth beneath me. The smell of dirt lifted to my nostrils as I took in a deep breath. Again I could smell the warm strawberries and the green vines. My eyes were closed but I could see the light of the sun through my eyes lids and feel the warmth of its rays on my skin.

I laid there for a while, not wanting to move or disturb the peace that wafted over me. It was almost a serene feeling, like being weightless with no worries or troubles to hold me down. When I did open my eyes, the image of the strawberry fields with their green and red vibrant colors were nowhere to be seen. In their place was fire.

The warmth I felt was the fire catching on my clothes. The light I thought I saw wasn't the sun at all, it was the east wing sunroom in a blaze. The strawberry scent I had breathed in was the scent of Amily. Her blood was everywhere. As I scanned my surroundings I found her almost lifeless body lying next me on the floor. Her emerald green eyes were still wide open. Her neck was slashed from one ear to the other and from what I could tell, my serene euphoric state was caused by the high her blood gave me. When I looked at her closely, she was whimpering and lightly speaking. All I heard was "Why...?"

I was startled out of sleep by the image of Amily covered in her own blood. Not once had my strawberry dream ever ended so gruesomely. I felt I should take that as a clear sign to avoid the girl as much as possible or her death would be on my hands. The only problem was that now I was to be her escort. Avoiding Amily will be impossible.