Atherian Tales: The Blood Slave

Chapter Eleven

I stood in the east wing sunroom with Lord Thelios as he stared at me almost expressionless. He was silent for a moment after I told him I had to withdraw myself from my duties as an escort. I didn't tell him it was because I had fed from Amily. I couldn't tell him I had tasted one of his precious blood slaves for myself. I couldn't help myself. I hadn't noticed what I was doing until it was too late. I don't know why Amily was in that hall or why she was there on her own but it was the wrong time to be there.

I had been needing to feed and when I found that the redheaded girl's were being made to take the tonic, I already had my mind set on Shelby. She was the eldest one. I had walked down to the kitchen and found her. I lied a bit saying I needed her for Amily again. The girl was nervous to begin with. Her pulse was quickening with every second she walked behind me. When I had her follow me down the dark corridor, the same one Amily made her way to, I could have sworn the girl's heart would leap out of her chest with how harshly it was beating. I believe she lost sight of me for a moment because she stopped in the middle of the hall. I took her moments pause as my opportunity to strike.

I pushed the girl up against the wall and stared directly into her eyes. The small amount of moonlight that came in through the windows allowed the girl to see my face and meet my gaze. I told her that I wouldn't hurt her and that she wouldn't scream. As my compulsion was in action, I pushed her head to the side and let my teeth sank deep into her neck. I was in the middle of feeding still when I heard footsteps. It wasn't until I smelled the familiar scent of strawberries and heard her gasp, did I realize it was Amily. Still in a trance from the fresh blood I had just consumed, I sprinted over to Amily, letting Shelby drop to the floor, and pushed her up against the wall like I had done with the redhead.

Her scent was intoxicating. The strawberry aroma pulled me in so deeply I ripped her dress from her shoulder just to get a better whiff. Here bare skin and the crimson flowing beneath it grabbed me and wouldn't let go. When she tried to speak, I placed my hand over her mouth, letting my palm rest on her lips, to prevent her screaming. It was a matter of seconds before my fangs were deep into her flesh.

Her blood flowed easily down my throat. The mixture of freshness and sweetness sent me to a state where all I was concerned about was getting more. I wrapped my arm around Amily to secure her in place. Her heart began beating faster, trying to pump more blood throughout her body to compensate for the lost amount but it only pumped more for my own pleasure giving me more to consume. When Amily started to go limp, I jolted away from her. Something in me snapped, telling me I took too much and that I needed to heal her and make this right. When I carried her back to her room, luckily without any witnesses, I placed her on her bed and something inside me again was pulling at my emotions, overwhelming me with a sense of guilt. That same something wanted me to protect her and was scolding me for not doing so.

When Amily finally opened her eyes, she screamed at the site of me and backed herself up against the head of her bed. She didn't want me near her, which I understood, but I only wanted to explain myself. I had to cover her mouth with my hand again to keep her from yelling more. Even with my palm against her lips Amily tried still to speak. She asked about Shelby. I would have found it amusing that she asked about the girl instead of being concerned for herself if it weren't for the situation we were in. The situation being, I attacked Amily, Amily is a blood slave to Lord Thelios and if he found out he would most likely have my head, Amily is a pure blood human, Amily's pure blood had no harsh effects on myself rather then sending me into a euphoric state.

I was at a loss for words on the last part, not understanding how her pure blood didn't drive me completely insane. Any half blood like myself would hardly need a drop of pure blood to make them lose their minds but with me, I almost drained Amily of every ounce yet I have remained as I am.