Castle Vitale

Part 10: Drive

"You're cold."

"What?"

"You're trembling." He took off his hooded jacket and put it on me. "The seasons are changing, pet. You must be careful." He drew me into his arms, and I exhaled. I remembered this. He looked down at me. "Are you hungry?"

"I don't think so." Okay, he's as big as he is in my dreams. Oh, God...

He put an arm around me, and walked me to a car. "Just the same, I would like you to eat when we get home." He opened the door for me, and helped me in. 

"Where is that?"

"We live in a castle on the outskirts of a national park," he told me. "About an hour from here, usually two, but there is no traffic. There are other nearby homes but we are all separated from a great deal of forestry. We do have a waterfall on our land. Charlotte loves it."

"Charlotte?!" I squealed. "She's here?!"

"She's there and alright," he nodded. "and doing quite well." 

I sat back in my seat. Problem solved! "Why didn't she join us in Canada?"

"I caught her," he said simply. "I brought her here partially for her own protection."

I frowned.  "What?"

"Castle Vitale--"

My heart almost stopped. "Did you say Vitale?"

He was quiet for a moment. "Yes."

"Vitale is a new term that describes--"

"Psychic blood slaves," he exhaled heavily. "But they are not mistreated here."

"Can they leave?"

"Yes," he shrugged. "but they cannot reveal us. That would be...fatal."

I looked at his profile. He was dead serious about that. "So why do they stay?"

"Money, security," he answered. "All we ask is for blood every few weeks or so."

"And you sell it."

"Yes, but they get a cut," he said. "and we protect them from the government. Psychics are a hot commodity in the supernatural world, and considered potential weapons, product, all of it."

"So what am I, now?"

"You're Shanti," he replied. "You're with me."

"So you're going to pimp out my blood?" I was getting upset pretty fast.

"If you wish."

"And if I don't?"

"Well, you don't," he replied. "I think you know by now my interest in you has nothing to do with your blood." His expression became boyish. "Well, maybe a little."

The suggestiveness of his tone made my body tingle. I was sidetracked. What was I saying? How can I keep my wits if he can do that to me? I yawned. Great.

"Get some sleep, pet." 

"I'm not tired."

"You're sleepy, though." He reached over and caressed my hand. "Rest."

I closed my eyes with a sigh. I didn't know what was ahead, so a little rest wasn't going to hurt. 

I awakened to him carrying me over a drawbridge. He was hurrying.

The doors were opened and we were inside. 

"DARIUS!" Drake yelled. "DARIUS!" A bunch of people were standing around. One thing for sure, this place felt laid back. "Food and water for her?" They scrambled.

"Who is she?" A beautiful blonde asked.

"Mine," He growled in a tone not to be argued. "Taking her down."

"Down where?" I finally asked.

"Medical," he replied. "Just a check up. Procedure, okay?"

"Procedure?" I repeated. "I'm not a lab rat--"

"But I must make sure you are in perfect health," His told me simply.

"But I--" He looked at me and I shut my mouth. This wasn't up for debate.

We finally came down to the whitest room I've ever seen. A cute young man was waiting. "This is her?"

"Yes," Drake nodded. "Shanti, this is Dr. Darius Chiron." He rubbed the younger man's shoulder. "Darius, Shanti." He leaned over and kissed my forehead saying, "Consider him family. I'll be back." I watched him walk out the door...and suddenly fly into the room backwards and hit the wall!

"Drake!" I cried. He scrambled to get up, but then he was banged into the wall again, held by an unseen force off his feet. 

"Bastard!"

I knew that voice! "No, no, no!" I scrambled out of bed and went to his side. I fought with my own power to wrench him free, but he was banged into the wall again. "CHARLOTTE!"

Charlotte stepped into the room, angry tears threatening to fall. Her eyes almost looked like a tiger's. "You took her, you took her--"

"STOP!" I cried.

"Charlotte, no!" Darius rushed to her side. He suddenly rose, but gently. "Charlotte, we discussed this--please--"

"You didn't tell me he was preparing for her!" She accused, pointing at Drake and me. "You didn't tell me that!"

"I came here on my own!" I cried out. "I came here to meet him!"

Charlotte's eyes were like that of a tiger's. "What?!"

"Stop, please!" I begged, and then the men were brought to the ground, Darius gently and Drake no so much. I went to Drake's side, and knelt. Darius tiredly threw me a towel. I began dabbing at Drake's bloody lip. "I came here...to be with him."

Charlotte shook her head in denial, her eyes locking with Drake's in outrage. "You WHAT?!"

"Darius," Drake panted. "It's time."

"What--what--" Suddenly, Darius took Charlotte by the hand. "We'll be back. Make yourself comfortable , Shanti. Welcome to Castle Vitale."

******************************