DEAD SEED (AKA "Vampires Don't Exist")

SIXTEEN: A New Face

"I said I didn't want her harmed, Aimeric." Claire stepped across the room, taking long strides.

As soon as she was close enough, Aimeric grabbed her and flung her against the wall next to Aralyn. Claire grinned, unafraid. Aralyn envied her for that.

"And I have told you that nothing you say matters here. I am in charge of you leeches. She may be your sister, Claire, but she belongs to me." He let her go and added, "But if you must know why she is being punished, she tried to escape."

Claire looked at Aralyn and shook her head. "Ungrateful bitch."

Aralyn's brow furrowed. "What?" She couldn't believe what Claire had just said.

"How dare you? Master Aimeric rescued you from that slime and brought you here to be his and you show your appreciation by running away?"

Aralyn scoffed, then couldn't help but laugh. She couldn't believe the arrogance of them. All of them. They thought they were doing her a favor by keeping her here and putting her through all this hell?

She felt like she was going crazy. Her shoulders shook. Despite the pain in her back she continued to laugh. Claire looked at Aimeric and then back at Aralyn.

"What's so goddamn funny?" she asked.

"You want me to be appreciative? Of being kept a prisoner? Raped? Branded." She glared at Aimeric.

"Watch your tone," he growled.

Seeing the furious look in his eyes, she closed her mouth, looked away and mumbled, "I'm sorry." She held onto the wall, feeling the pain consume her back again. She needed to sit down, standing was too painful.

Aimeric looked at her for a moment, as if trying to decide if she needed further punishment. "Claire, tell Morgan to bring food up to my room for her."

"Yes Master." Claire left to do as she was told.

Aimeric took Aralyn, careful not to touch the wound on her back as he helped her walk. He moved slowly with her, guiding her up the stairs.

"I realize as a human you don't consider your arrangements ideal. I'm not unreasonable, my love. Perhaps I can make things better for you, make you happy."

She didn't say anything as they made their way up to his room. What could she say? Nothing he could do would make her happy. Perhaps eventually she would become content with being a prisoner, but she would never be happy.

Aimeric ran her a cool bath so it wouldn't further irritate the burn. He was surprisingly gentle as he bathed her. He washed her hair and gently cleaned the rest of her body. He was careful not to touch her wound. The cool water soothed it, but the rest of her body was shivering by the time he finished. He rubbed more ointment on her and put on a new bandage. He helped her into warm clothes.

She wondered if he was tricking her. Trying to get her to drop her guard and make her think he was capable of being caring and affectionate. She wasn't going to fall for it.

He helped her into the bed. She lay on her side, looking at Aimeric while he looked back at her. There was something in his eyes that made her not want to look away. She felt calm when she looked into his eyes. The pain in her back wasn't so intense.

Aimeric put his hand on the back of her neck and lowered his mouth to hers. Aralyn kissed him back, moving her lips against his. She felt strange. Her mind was clouding over. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want him to stop kissing her.

A soft knock on the door interrupted them.

"Come in," Aimeric said, standing.

Morgan entered with a tray of food and brought it to Aimeric. Aimeric took it and sat on the edge of the mattress next to Aralyn. Morgan stood there as if waiting for something.