The Vampire's Love (8 page)

Abigail’s
heartbeat quickened as she squinted in the light.  “They keep them
outside?”

“They keep
them in a building behind the main castle.”  Sienna replied. 

They walked
around the side of the castle and Abigail studied the stone building about ten
feet behind the castle.  To the left of it a curved stone wall rose up
nearly forty feet in the air.

“What is
that?”  Abby pointed with her chin to the wall.

“That’s
where the games happen.”  Sienna answered.  “Lord Darius had it built
two months ago.  He calls it the arena.  There are rows of seats for
people to watch the slaves fight.”

“Like the
Romans and their damn Colosseum.”  Abigail muttered.

“Like
who?”  Sienna asked curiously.

“Never
mind.”  Abigail smiled at her as they approached the building.  “Is
Darius not afraid that the slaves will escape while the vampires are in their
daysleep?”

Sienna
shook her head.  “It is not possible.  They are guarded by bear
shifters.”

“You’re
kidding me?  Shifters working for vampires?”  Abigail said in
surprise.

“Yes.” 
Sienna replied.  She was starting to look a bit nervous and she gave
Abigail a worried look.  “Perhaps you should stay out here.  The
shifters are suspicious of new people.”

Abby shook
her head.  “This tray is too heavy for you.  I am not afraid of
shifters.”

Sienna gave
her an admiring look.  “I am not sure whether you are the most foolish
woman I’ve met or the bravest.”

“I am
neither.”  Abby grinned at her.  “Although my mother might have made
a strong argument for foolish.”

Sienna
laughed and opened the thick, wooden door of the stone building. 
Balancing the large tray between them, the women stepped into the cool
darkness.  There was a low growling from ahead of them and Abby squinted
into the dimness.  Her eyes had not yet adjusted to the gloom and she
could just make out the dark shape coming toward them.

“Who is
this?”  A man, he was huge with a dark beard that hung halfway to his
chest and small beady eyes, gave her a suspicious look.

“Just
another slave.”  Sienna squeaked nervously.

“Is
she?”  The man leaned forward and sniffed Abigail.  “Why is she
here?”

“The tray
is too heavy for her.”  Abigail smiled cheerfully at him.  “I offered
to assist her.”

“Does the
Lord Darius know?”  The bear shifter grunted.

“I am only
being helpful, my lord.”  Abby gave him another smile before touching his
arm lightly.  “Surely you do not believe I am a threat to such a large,
impressive man such as yourself?”

The shifter
growled dismissively but stood a little straighter before looking Abigail up
and down.  “Do you belong to one of the leeches?”

“She
does.”  Sienna said quickly.  “She is the Lord Joven’s personal
slave.”

“Is she
now?”  The shifter leaned forward and sniffed her again.  “Have you
ever been with a shifter before, girl?”

“I
haven’t.”  Abby purred softly.  “Not yet, anyway.”

“Well, if
you ever get tired of being the leech’s meal, you come and see me.  I have
forgotten more about fucking a woman than a leech will ever know.”

“That’s
very kind of you.”  Abigail gave him a slow smile.  “What’s your
name, handsome?”

“Jeremiah.” 
The bear shifter reached out and squeezed her hip before sliding his hand
around to her ass.

“I’m
Abigail.  It’s very good to meet you, Jeremiah.”

The shifter
grinned at her, revealing large yellow teeth, before squeezing her ass with his
hard hand.  “You’re a little slut then, aren’t you?”

Abigail
shrugged and stepped away from him.  “Will you open the door, Jeremiah?
 I’m sure the slaves would like their dinner.”

The bear
shifter squeezed her ass once more before pulling the ring of keys from a hook on
the wall to the right of the door.  He opened it and Abigail smiled
sweetly at him before following Sienna through the doorway.

Abigail
glanced around curiously.  They were in a small windowless room that had a
small bench to their right and nothing else.  Ahead of them was doorway
that opened up into a long, wide hallway.  Barred rooms lined it and she
could see a few grimy fists wrapped around the thick steel bars.

“Do not get
to close to the bars.”  Sienna said anxiously.  “Just place the bread
on the tray and push it through the opening at the bottom.  Each slave is
allowed one loaf of bread.”

“Is this
all they are given to eat?”  Abigail asked.

“No. 
We bring them meat and vegetables in the evening.  Lord Darius used to
give them only bread but it made them too weak to fight.  They put on a
better show when they are given meat.” 

She led
Abigail into the hallway and they set the large tray on the floor.  Sienna
moved to the first cell on the left and deposited three loaves of bread on the
tray that was placed on the floor in front of it before shoving it through the
narrow opening at the bottom of the cell.  She smiled briefly at its
occupants before moving on to the next.

Abby peered
into the first cell on the right.  Two of the largest women she’d ever
seen were sitting on the floor with their backs against the wall.  The
bigger of the two had short dark hair and her nose was canted to the
left.  She grinned at Abby, revealing a mouthful of missing and broken
teeth, and Abby gave her a small smile in return.

“You’re
new.”  She stood with a lazy grace and moved to the front of the
cell.  “Look Dalia, fresh meat.”

“I see her
Ursula.”  The smaller one grunted.  She didn’t join her sister at the
front of the cell.  “Hurry up with the bread, slave.  My sister and I
are starving.”

“Sorry.” 
Abigail replied.  She quickly piled two of the larger loaves on to the
tray in front of their cell and shoved it through the opening, being careful
not to lean to close to the bars.  Ursula inhaled deeply. 

“You smell
pretty.”

“Thank
you.”

Abigail
moved to the next cell.  This one held four men of varying sizes and they
all gave her the same look of weary resignation when she pushed the bread into
the cell.

As she
stooped to gather more bread she heard Sienna murmur quietly, “Hello, Neil.”

Abigail
stiffened and then hurried toward the plump woman.  She was reaching into
the bars and a soft giggle escaped from her lips as Abby joined her.  She
breathed a sigh of relief.  Neil, his face battered and bruised, was
holding Sienna’s hand.  He brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles
lightly.

“You’re
looking lovely today, Sienna.”

“Thank
you.”  Sienna gave him a shy look as Neil’s gaze drifted to Abby.

His mouth
dropped open and he released Sienna’s hand before taking a step
backwards.  “Abby?”

“Neil!” 
Abby, tears starting to slide down her cheeks, reached through the bars. 
Neil shook his head in disbelief before stepping forward.  They embraced
through the bars as Sienna blinked at them in surprise.

“Oh,
Neil.  I’m so happy to see you.”  Abby stroked the large man’s face
as he gazed in shock at her.

“Abby, I –
I thought you were dead.”

“No.” 
Abby shook her head.  “Where is Maria?  Is she alright?”

“Yes. 
She’s two cells down.”  Neil looked her up and down.  “What happened
to you, Abby?  You look so different.”

Abby smiled
at him.  “I am different.  It’s a long story.”

“Were you
captured by Darius?”  Neil frowned.

Sienna
cleared her throat loudly.  “No.  She is the pet of the Lord Joven.”

“Oh,
Abby.”  Neil said sadly.

“It’s fine,
Neil.  Do not worry.”  Abigail said briefly.

“How do you
know each other?”  Sienna had recovered from her shock and she was giving
Abby a mistrustful look.

“We met a
long time ago but then I was taken by a vampire.”  Abby replied as Neil
squeezed her hands.

Sienna
stared miserably at their clasped hands before nodding.  “I will leave you
alone.”

“No!” 
Neil dropped Abby’s hands and reached for Sienna’s.  “Do not leave,
Sienna.  I have waited all morning to see you.”

A small
smile crossed Abby’s face.  The look of adoration on Neil’s face was plain
to see and she squeezed Sienna’s arm.  “Neil and I are only friends,
Sienna.  Nothing more.”

The woman
blushed before returning her gaze to Neil.  “Seeing you is the best part
of my day.”

Neil’s grin
widened and Abby glanced behind him.  There was no one else in Neil’s cell
except for an old man.  He was curled into a ball and snoring loudly, and
she leaned closer to the bars and touched Neil’s shoulder gingerly.

“Neil? 
I am going to see Maria.  I cannot explain at the moment, but I promise
you that everything will be different soon.  Alright?”

Neil
studied her carefully before nodding.  “Alright.”

She hurried
away as Sienna began to hand out the loaves of bread again.  She peered
into a cell, her heart thudding heavily when she saw Maria’s sweet face.

“Maria!”

“Abigail?” 
Maria was thinner and her long hair had been chopped into a short, unflattering
pixie cut, but she gave Abby a warm smile as she rushed to the front of the
cell.

“What are
you doing here?”  She reached through the bars and touched Abigail’s face
lightly before glancing at the other two women in her cell. 

“Do not
come too closely.”  She warned as the other women scowled at them.

Abby kissed
Maria’s hands and held them tightly.  “I don’t have time to explain right
now but I promise things are going to be better soon.  Okay?”

“Did Val
find you?”  Maria asked suddenly.

Abby
hesitated.  “Sort of.  He found me a couple of weeks ago.”

“Where is
he now?”  Maria frowned.

“I cannot
explain right now.”  Abigail glanced around warily.  “Just trust me
that it will be better soon.”

Maria
nodded and Abigail squeezed her hands again.  “I must help Sienna hand out
the bread.  I will try and visit you again tomorrow.  Alright?”

Maria gave
her a small smile and Abby kissed her hands again.  “It will be okay,
Maria.  I promise you.”

She dropped
the older woman’s hands and moved down the hallway, searching each cell as,
behind her, Sienna continued to hand out the bread.  Her pulse pounding
and her mouth dry, Abby approached the final cell on the right.  She
peered into it, her breath rushing out of her in a huge rush when she saw
Michael sitting against the far wall.  His eyes were closed and he
appeared to be sleeping.

There were
three other men in the cell with him and the largest one leered at her. 
“Hey, pretty little bitch.  Why don’t you get on your knees?  I have
a present for you.”

He
unbuttoned his pants and pulled his flaccid cock out, waving it at her as the
two other men snickered loudly.  Ignoring him, Abby cleared her throat
loudly.  “Michael?  Wake up.”

Michael’s
eyes popped open and he stared at her for a moment.  “Am I dreaming?”

Abby smiled
tearfully at him.  “You are not dreaming, Michael.”

He stood
and made his way to the front of the cell before reaching through the
bars.  She took his hands and squeezed tightly.  “Oh, Michael.”

The small
man smiled at her.  “I’m okay, Abigail.”

Abby
studied him carefully.  He was shirtless and his upper torso was covered
in cuts and bruises.  A dirty bandage was wrapped around his torso and she
could see a large patch of dried blood on it.

She jerked
when a dirty hand reached through the bars and grabbed her hair.  She was
yanked forward and she gasped in pain when her face slammed against the cold
steel.

“On your
knees, bitch.”  The man who had spoken to her earlier shook her
roughly.  Before she could wrench herself free, Michael had grabbed the
man’s arm and twisted it violently behind his back.

The man
screamed pitifully and fell to his knees.  Although he was twice the size
of Michael, he gave him a fearful, pleading look.  “Please, I’m sorry.”

“Touch her
again and I’ll tear your arm from your socket.  Do you understand?” 
Michael said quietly.

The man
didn’t reply and Michael yanked his arm higher.  He screamed again, a thin
wavering noise that sounded ridiculous coming from his large body, and nodded
frantically.

“I
understand!  I understand!”

“Good.” 
Michael released his arm and then patted his head like he was a dog. 
“Back to your corner.”

The man
staggered to his feet and retreated, rubbing his arm and casting fearful
glances at Michael as the other men chuckled loudly.

“Shut the
fuck up!”  The man snarled before punching the man closest to him.

Michael
turned back to Abby.  “You should not be here, Abby.  It is too
dangerous.”

“Do you
really believe I would leave you to rot in this cell or be killed?”  Abby
whispered angrily.  “We have spent the last few months devising a way to
free you.”

“We?”

“Wesley and
Evan and I.”  Abby answered.

“What of
Bill?” 

“He – he’s
dead.  He was killed by a bear shifter as we were traveling here.”

Michael’s
shoulders slumped and Abby rubbed his arm soothingly.  “Michael, look at
me.”

He raised
his dark brown eyes to hers and she smiled at him.  “It is not your
fault.  He wanted to rescue you.”

“Abby, this
Darius is very dangerous.”  He studied her outfit, his eyes lingering on
the collar around her neck, and she blushed a little before crossing her arms
over her chest.

“I
know.  Don’t worry.  Everything will work out.” 

She leaned
closer as Michael rested his head against the bars of the cell.

“Jaxen will
help us and there is another vampire who will help us as well.”  She
breathed into his ear.

“Who?”

“Val.”

Michael
gave her a surprised look.  “The one who saved your life when you first
came to our world?”

“Yes.”

“Are you
allowing him to feed from you again, Abby?  You know how dangerous that
is.  You cannot allow him to bite you even if it means saving me.  Do
you – “

“He’s not
feeding from me.”  Abby whispered.  “Do not worry, Michael.”

Sienna had
approached them and she gave the two of them a curious look as she slid the
tray of bread into the cell.  “Do you know everyone here, Abby?”

Abby shook
her head and stepped back.  “No, Sienna.”

Sienna took
her hand.  “We must leave now.  If we linger any longer, the shifter
will grow suspicious.”

“Alright.” 
She reached through the bars and squeezed Michael’s hand again.  “Stay
strong, Michael.”

“Be safe,
Abigail.”  He replied gravely.

“I will
be.”  She gave him a reassuring smile as Sienna tugged on her hand and led
her back down the hallway. 

As they
passed Neil’s cell he reached out and snagged Sienna by the arm.  She
smiled sweetly at him as he caressed her pale skin.  “I will see you
tomorrow?”

“Yes.” 
She hesitated and then leaned forward.  Neil’s face was pressed against
the bars and she placed a quick kiss on his cheek.  “Bye, Neil.”

“Goodbye,
Sienna.”

* * *

“Sienna? 
You cannot tell anyone that I know Neil and the others, alright?”

Sienna had
led Abby back to Val’s room and Abby placed her hand on the woman’s arm.

Sienna
didn’t answer and Abby gave her an anxious look.  “If you say something,
it will mean Neil’s death.  Is that what you want?”

Sienna
shook her head.  “No, of course not!  I will not tell anyone.”

She
hesitated and then gave Abby an anxious look.  “Are you sure that you and
Neil are only friends?”

“Yes. 
I promise you.  We are nothing more than friends.”  Abby said
reassuringly.  She patted the woman’s arm.  “Are you in love with
him?”

Sienna
shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I am very fond of him.  He has such a
kind manner, does he not?”

“He
does.  He’s a good man, Sienna.”

“He seems
to be.”  She sighed softly.  “It is difficult for me to know what I
truly want.  The nights that I am fed on by a leech, I am certain that it
is that leech I want and need and that I cannot live without them.  But
then I see Neil and I…”

She trailed
off before sighing again.  “I hate that I am attracted to the leeches when
they bite me.  I feel like I am being unfaithful to Neil.  Isn’t that
ridiculous?  I really know nothing about him and I’m not even certain that
he is attracted to me.  I’ve had only a few conversations with him but the
way that he looks at me – like I am more than just a meal – makes me happy.”