Atherian Tales: The Blood Slave

Chapter Fifteen

I was still wiping the sleep from my eyes as I sat across from Lord Thelios in his sunroom. He had Noah gather me from my chambers as quickly as he could, telling me the matter was urgent. I hadn't the time to dress properly so there I sat with my night dress and robe. My stockings were misplaced around my ankles due to my restless slumber and the quick scramble to get to the east wing sunroom. My hair was hardly acceptable to be in the presence of anyone as is was lazily thrown up into a bun and resting loosely atop my head. I must have been a sight for sure.

"Amily, we have a situation." Lord Thelios admitted as I yawned and stretched my arms to the ceiling.

"Is it the rude wake up call?" I asked. I was tired and in no mood for pleasantries.

"It concerns my cousin." He said, immediately causing a knot to form in my throat. "He is here to obtain a new blood slave, much like I had thought." He continued and once I realized I was the only one present among the other girls, I swallowed the lump in my throat in a hard gulp.

"Why have you called for only me My Lord?" I asked, not fully ready to hear his answer. Lord Thelios took a deep inhale which made the knot I had swallowed turn to a boulder size not in my belly and overwhelming me with a deep sense of worry.

"You are aware of his interest in you. I believe he fancies you over Anna and Perscilla."

"But he can't have me!" I shouted as if I knew that was where the lord was taking the conversation.

"You are not bound to me yet Amily. He doesn't know that but it won't take much for him to find the truth."

"But you wanted me to stay close to you, you didn't want him finding out! Why now?"

"Well, you are also aware of the red armored creatures that Elias and his guardsmen are infiltrating. I worry that the creatures might attack if they are as bad as the rumors....Lord Delaney can offer help, an alliance so to speak."

"So you plan on trading me for his army?"

"I'm not exactly sure with what I plan on doing just yet."

"Then why tell me. It doesn't seem to matter what I want or how I feel, why include me to begin with? I'm only a slave!" This made Lord Thelios fume with anger. He sprinted towards me, looking as if he was gliding just above the floor with his swiftness. As he extended his arms to reach for me, I dove for the arm of the sofa. Bringing my knees to my chin and resting it there. I covered my eyes with my hands just as his own hand grabbed my wrist, his long fingers like spider legs engulfing it entirely.

"Noah!" He yelled. "Leave us. I will call for you when Lady Amily is ready to return to her chambers." Without another glance, Noah left me alone with the lord, shutting the door behind him. I felt Lord Thelios' hot breath sweep past my hair as he bent down in front of me. Still holding my wrist, the lord bent down further until he was next to my ear. With a sour tone he spoke.

"I will have you bound to me soon enough slave. When I do, you will do as I say. If I ask you to warm every man's bed in the kingdom you shall. Do you understand?" I was hesitant to answer. I didn't want to move let alone speak. This made Thelios angry.

"I said do you understand?" I simply nodded. Thelios released my wrists after he pulled me up to my feet. "Leave!" He yelled and I did as he said, not glancing for a second behind me when I did.

The next few days I could hardly look at Lord Thelios. Whenever our eyes met, his gaze was heated as if he was ready to strangle me on the spot. I had angered him when I talked back to him and now I fear what the future holds for me.

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My men have been preparing for the infiltration on the creatures for weeks now. They have trained day and night in combat and tactics in hopes that we will out smart and outmaneuver the beasts. The witch has been less help, saying she will do what needs done when the moment comes. She has been spitting her lies again about Amily and myself. She has continued to inform me, telling me over and over that Amily is the one "He" is after. Something about how she holds the key or is the key. Whatever she means is beyond me.