Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I had no idea where I was going to go, but I just knew the memories were too much. I wanted them gone, all 176 years of them. Where is Haven when you need her? I thought to myself, silently snickering. 

I knew she was long dead by now. But the thought of her being Human with no powers and obsessed with my brother, but never able to get to him, was hilarious. 

I really could have used her memory erasing powers right about now. I wanted every memory I ever had of Ivy, fucking gone. I was walking along the trail that lined my property through the forest. 

“I wish I never fucking remembered she existed.” I said out loud. I smashed my fist into the nearby tree, shattering a chunk from its trunk. I kept walking aimlessly, lost inside my own thoughts when I ended up outside of my territory. 

I was in Lucians territory now. Not that I wasn’t allowed here, I just chose to stay away, for the most part, whenever possible. In his territory, Vampires walked the streets freely with their pet Humans on leashes. 

Part of our treaty, if it were to work, was their pet rules. I was not allowed to intervene. 

Having a pet seemed inhuman. The pets were only those Humans who disobeyed and tried to rebel or run when the Vampires took over the city. I suppose that made it better, since they were traitors. 

As much as the Vampires needed to feed, having their own supply of blood at their disposal was a godsend. It kept them off the streets sporadically hunting. While I didn’t necessarily agree, I didn’t disagree either. 

It was their choice, and what did I care about Humans anyways? I came to a spot in town where there seemed to be quite a commotion outside of a local business. I recognized it as one of the few pet stores around here. 

There was a crowd that had gathered of Vampires outside the doors, encircling something. I couldn't quite make out what they were all looking at. I wandered over to see what the commotion was, and the Vampires split to let me through. 

I was more powerful than they were, so I tended to get my way without having to try. Once I got to the front of the circle I could see the Ringmaster. She was a beautiful blonde Vampire dressed in a ringmasters uniform with a bullwhip in her hand. 

On a small stage in front of her there were four pets standing on display. Each of them looked incredibly terrified. Two of the four had visible bite marks and lash marks, the other two had lash marks but no bites. 

As I took a closer look I realized they were each marked for sale with a price in the hundreds of thousands, which is nothing to a Vampire. The Ringmaster said any interested Vampire was allowed up to the stage to inspect the merchandise. 

Each girl was dressed in a bikini, showing off their skin and body form. Most Vampires didn’t care what their pets looked like. But for some, it was a plus to have a good looking pet to show off. 

I watched as Vampires lined up to get on stage. They let them up there one by one and I watched as a younger looking Vampire with dark hair, circled each female like she was his prey. I guess in essence they were. 

He shook his head no and exited the stage, going back to where he was standing originally. I watched as the next Vampire did the same thing. This time he touched the pets. Lifting their arms, moving their hair, looking at their necks. 

This Vampire was blonde, and seemed a little older. “Why does this one have so many bite marks?” He asked the Ringmaster, while looking at the first pet in the lineup. 

“That one is feisty, she is. She talks back, and doesn’t know how to follow rules.” The Ringmaster said. 

The blonde Vampire nodded his head and looked her over again, carefully. But then he moved on. The girl was trembling but a sign of relief left her lips as he moved forward. 

She held her breath as another Vampire walked up and started to look her over. She closed her eyes in a panic and tried not to tremble, but you could see she was completely terrified. 

I was going to turn around and walk away. I didn’t care about Vampires and their weird ass traditions, when the girl opened her eyes and locked them straight onto me. Her eyes were fucking beautiful. They were the most vivid crystal blue I had ever seen. 

She looked at me with the same admiration that all Humans do, she was drawn to me and she had no choice. I groaned silently. 

How was I supposed to leave her there now? I didn’t even want a pet, jesus. Why did I have to stay this long, why did she even look at me anyways? Pets weren’t allowed to look at the crowd, that was the rule when they were being sold. 

She started whimpering as the next Vampire was looking her over, turning her in circles trying to gauge every aspect of her injuries and just how extensive they were. 

The more extensive the injuries the more work for the Vampire as they can heal themselves, but not others. Well, except being able to close a bite wound. That was about it. I didn’t fucking care. Let her be afraid, it wasn’t my job to save her… 

I turned away from her to start walking away, but I could feel her eyes burning against the back of my head. I rolled my eyes in frustration. My mind was literally going a thousand miles per hour, and I was not in the right mindset to be here right now. 

I took a few more steps away through the crowd, and then felt coherently guilty for just leaving her there. But what do I care about Humans? Especially Human pets? I had so much other shit on my mind, how was this a priority at all? 

Yes, if I bought her she would still have to live as a pet, it was the rules I agreed to in the treaty… But I could at least heal her wounds. I did drink blood too, not because I needed to, but because I wanted to. 

It would be nice to not have to go find someone to let me drink from them every time I wanted too… Plus I did just lose my assistant, fucking traitor…. 

The rage overtook me again and was fueling my actions. “Fuck it.” I said out loud and turned around walking up the line past the Vampires. They, of course, didn’t say a word, and let me cut in line so I was next.

Once they opened the gate I walked up to the stage to this pet on display, who had been looking at me. She started to tremble as soon as I got close to her, and I think she realized I was much more of a predator than a Vampire. 

She may not have known what I was, but her instincts instantly told her she had made a mistake in making eye contact with me. 

As much as Humans are attracted to us, they also feel fear around us. By her actions, I would say it was a worse fear than that she was feeling around the Vampires. 

I could hear her crying softly as I took a better look at her. She was a good height for a Human, I would guess about five foot nine if I had to. She had dark hair, it was up in a sad excuse for a ponytail. But even then, it hung to her waist.

She had bite marks on both sides of her neck, on her shoulder, both hips, and inside her thigh. It looks like they never bothered to heal any of them, leaving extensive scarring. 

She had a very intense lash scar across her face. it  started above her eyebrow on the right side and followed down her face over her nose, ending under her left cheekbone. 

She also had multiple lash marks on her back. Some new, most older, scarred over marks. She had been beaten multiple times, and fed from while in the Ringmasters care. I stopped in front of her and she looked straight down at her feet. 

I put my finger under her chin and lifted her head up so we were making eye contact again. I stayed silent as I watched tears stream down her face. She really had no idea what she was getting herself into. 

I put my hand out gesturing for her to place her hand in mine. She flinched away from me, and then realized I wasn’t touching her and reluctantly put her hand inside mine. 

“What is your name?” I asked her, but she remained silent. “They are not allowed to speak, unless given permission.” The Ringmaster snapped, from the side of the stage. 

I turned and glared at the Ringmaster, causing the pet to tremble even worse in my grip. “B-but of course, she can speak freely to you, sir.” The Ringmaster said. 

I didn’t answer her, instead I turned back to the pet and waited for a reply. “Ambrosia.” She said so quietly that without Vampire hearing I wouldn’t have heard her. I let her hand down and she pulled it to her stomach putting her other hand around it instantly as if my touch burned her. 

I looked back at the Ringmaster. “I will take this one, how much?” I asked. I heard my pet gasp at my words, while choking back more tears that were threatening to fall. 

“Are you sure, sir? I’m telling you, this one is a nuisance… Not suited for a ruler of the underworld, such as yourself. Why don’t you come have a look at the pets I keep inside? I will show you them myself after these four are gone.” The Ringmaster proposed. 

I looked back at my pet, who wouldn’t look me in the eyes again but was still actively crying, before looking back at the Ringmaster. “I want this one, now how much is she?” I said again, with a little more authority in my tone. 

“As you wish, sir. She’s $400,000 flat.” The Ringmaster said. I snapped and produced two suitcases full of hundred dollar bills. “This should more than cover it.” I said, handing her the suitcases. She took a moment to open them and make sure the bills were there, before nodding to me. 

“Please head inside to the counter to collect her things, and your paperwork.” The Ringmaster said to me. I looked back at my new pet as two Vampires grabbed her rather harshly, while she kicked and screamed trying to get out of their grasp. 

I watched for a moment, she was a feisty little thing… I wondered just how much trouble she would give me. For a moment I wondered if I should have bought her. But once I saw her knee one of the Vampires right in the balls, I knew that this was a good purchase. 

“Let her go.” I boomed. The Vampires stopped but didn’t let go, they just looked at me. “I said, let her go. She is now mine, and I like my things intact.” I said curtly, as they both dropped her arms and started to back away. 

I walked up and grabbed her bloodstained white leash, turning it rose gold instantly. “Come, Ambrosia.” I said, leash in hand. 

I half expected her to defy me, but she followed me instantly. She gave me no trouble at all as I led her down the stage and into the pet store to gather her things.