AUTHOR'S NOTE: Again, gotta give props to my editor, Scooter! And thanks, mods, for getting the last three chapters out so quickly.
I'm glad y'all like the story. I get discouraged when my ratings drop .15 with ONE -1- vote. But hey, it's all about the writing, right?
YOUR COMMENTS: I don't always reply to comments on the chapters from people because I never now if y'all go back to find any from me.
So.....
Grrlslave: 1-No, Milton wasn't dead. Hiliad only killed the boy and his father; 2-New vampires get out of control. But Hiliad also knows Connee can control herself, so he was disappointed she lost it.
Inspector123: Yep! One last 'chapter.' It's actually 4 chapters but they should be 4-5 pages long! But 4 are pending.
There are ways I can continue Hiliad's story but after a new story is done that I'm working on with my evil male twin.
MasterfulJim: Heather turned into a were-kitty and was transported to the last Ice Age by a witch, married a saber-tooth tiger and had little kitties that turn into were-kitties on a full moon! Are you happy now? hehe
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The next night was Saturday, and the weekends were the busiest nights for Hiliad. I would have rather talked to Him about the night before. I knew, felt, He was angry that I hadn't stopped Him sooner when the pain came, and I could tell He felt guilty, too.
The only thing He told me before we slept for the day was that I will wear His collar 24-7, and that I was to ask permission to speak. Other than that, I would remain His slave.
Right after sunset, I'd promised He could wake me up, and I was already awake and ready for Him. I would have loved to lie in bed with Him, but Master making an appearance—or, as He had put it, 'Blessing the humans with His presence'—was mandatory on the weekends. The club always made more money on the weekend when He was there. He left with a warm kiss and a smile on His face.
My evening would be spent going to my apartment to start boxing things up. Driving there from Liza's, I couldn't help but think it was an ending to my human life. Packing up my day-life, as I dubbed it, was going to be rough.
When I arrived, I attacked my closet first for the rest of my clothes since they were the most important. Next were the little knick-knacks I had collected, then my mind started to wander when I found Heather's cat toy behind a bookshelf. She was the first gift Hiliad had given me, and I missed her, though I'd only had her a month.
After a couple of hours, I grew a little tired, so I grabbed a bottle of Sheep's blood and sat on my bed. It still was not as good as human blood, but I needed something while I was alone, which gave me time to think.
I had been vampire only a few weeks, and Hiliad told me before He left that He'd found the perfect place for us. That was why I was packing. We were going to be looking at it on Monday.
I had been emailing Francesca in Virginia every day since we left her, and there was no heavy duty conversation. It was more like getting acquainted or reacquainted with the other.
It was shocking how similar we were in our likes and dislikes and our personality traits, how opinionated we were, and she made me laugh. But I did promise her I would come back to visit her within the next few months.
Then there was Wilma , my new-found friend. I did call her a few days after we arrived home to let her know that we were back, and that I was okay. Immediately she noted a difference in my voice, but I couldn't tell her I had been changed.
I wasn't ready to speak about it, although I accepted my fate. She wanted us to get together, but I told her I was going to be busy for a few weeks. I hated lying to her. It seemed I had been making a lot of promises I couldn't keep lately.
My thoughts were distracted when my cell phone rang. I smiled when I saw Francesca's number, but curious as to why she was calling since I'd emailed her before I left Liza's house.
"Hi, Frannie."
"Hi. Are you okay, honey?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." No, I really wasn't. I was still flabbergasted at the pain in my stomach from last night with Hiliad and surprised how weak I was at the moment.
"What happened with Hiliad?" What? Can she feel my emotion over the phone? "No, honey. I'm telepathic. What did Hiliad do to you?" Her tone was stern and anxious.
Whether she told me when I was there, I simply couldn't remember. "Nothing, really. We, uh, I just had a cramp." I tried my hardest to keep my thoughts blocked from her, as I had been able to with Wilma.
"Nu-uh. It was more than a cramp."
"Really, He just ... used more force than I was used to."
"I don't believe you. Call it mother's intuition."
I then told her about the sharp pain during the scene so she wouldn't worry, but that Hiliad's blood took the pain away. She was quiet for too long. "Mom? You still there?"
"Yes, yes." She didn't elaborate.
"What's going on? What are you thinking?" I became nervous.
"Nothing, nothing. I'm sorry, but I have a patient coming in. Can I call you in a few hours?"
I told her yes, of course, knowing I'd be home by then and hung up my phone perplexed. What the hell was that all about? Looking at my watch, I was surprised to find it was 3:30, and I hadn't done a darn thing in the apartment.
Locking up and sitting in my car, I called Master to let Him know I was on the way back to Liza's. He suggested I get some more meat at the all-night grocery store on the way home; He would bring me dinner.
"Dinner?" I laughed. "Male or female?" He didn't get the joke.
When I did make it to Liza's, I went straight to the small refrigerator to put the meat away. Hiliad called me into the back parlor, where I met Him and a female. When I looked over His face, I knew something was wrong. While He always had a permanent stern expression, there was always lightness in His eyes. Then there was none.
"Feed," He told me, or more like ordered me to. I wanted to question His motives, but I didn't dare. I turned to the female, who was far from a fangbanger. "Hi," I said as I sat down beside her, "Are you okay with this?" I asked her, my voice shaking a little.
Hiliad barked, "Slave, it makes no difference whether she is or not. I brought her for you. That should be enough."
Right. The woman rested against the back cushion, tilted her head, giving me her neck. I exposed my fangs and bent in to her. Knowing it was less painful to delve into the flesh quickly rather than slowly, she moaned softly as I sank my fangs into her, guessing she was letting me know I wasn't hurting her.
Only when her blood went down my throat did I realize how hungry I really was. I put my hand on the cushion and drank more from her. I felt her hand on my shoulder, but Master didn't object. I liked the contact, it reminded me that she was still a human being.
When I was full enough, and I felt her hand slip from me, I removed my fangs and looked over her face. Color had clearly drained from her complexion, and she seemed ready to collapse, her eyes closed. I turned to Master. "Sir, if it pleases you, may I ask if she is alright?" I then retracted my fangs.
He smiled warmly, but I also noticed the thick bulge in His crotch. "Yes. Her name is Marley."
Turning back to her, I put my hand on her cheek, and said, "Marley, talk to me. You still with me?"
"Hmm, yes," she replied drowsily.
"Do you need anything?"
"No," she mumbled.
Hiliad stood up. "Slave, come. Someone will take you home, Marley. Thank you." Master took my hand and led me to the kitchen. "Sit." I obeyed, head bowed and hands in my lap, while He sat in the chair opposite me. "What have you been telling Queen Francesca about our relationship?"
"Sir, she called tonight ..." I told Him exactly what I told her. "I would never betray your trust, ever."
"Look at me," He demanded. I did. "She phoned me after she spoke to you. What. Did. You. Tell. The Queen?"
How could He think I would share our most intimate details with anyone, especially my mother? "Sir, I have saved all of my emails with her. We've spoken on the phone only once, earlier." He squared His eyes at me. My eyes burned with tears that were on the way. I had done nothing wrong.
"Then why does she think I do not feed you enough?"
My head flew back in shock. "Wha'? I have—" Then the tears started.
"I want an answer!" He threw His fist on the table, making me jump. More tears fell. "Do I not take care of you? Provide employment? Give you shelter during the day?" I bowed my head. "DO NOT AVOID ME!"
I looked back at Him, finding it extremely difficult to look Him in His eyes. The tears continued, my hands trembled.
"Answer me!"
"Master, I don't know why ... I never spoke or wrote of my feelings. And yes, Sir, you have given me all I need, and more. You must believe me." My voice trembled.
He was speculative for a minute, His eyes burrowing into my soul. I blinked to clear the moisture from my eyes and waited for Him to blast me for not telling Him the truth. But He only stood, retrieved the meat, put it on a plate and placed it before me. "Eat." "Master, may I speak?"
"No. Eat," He said sternly.
He had given me no knife and fork, and I was no savage. But I had no choice. I picked the block of meat up with my fingers and took a bite. I slowly chewed, surprised at how good it was, and that I was still hungry, even after having Marley's blood.
He stood staring down at me the entire time. Even though I didn't look at Him, I could sense the look in His eyes. He still was not pleased. I kept eating, not able to control my tears.
When I was halfway done, and way too full at that point, He commanded into my ear, "From now on, I will feed you. And you will sleep in the spare bedroom, alone, until you tell me the truth. Do you understand?"
I didn't like the tone in His voice at all. "Yes, Master, I understand."
My cell phone vibrated on the table. I'd forgotten Francesca was going to call me back.
"You will go now. Leave the clothes on your back on our bed." He picked up my phone and walked out.
It looked like I was going to be sleeping in the spare bedroom for the rest of my existence, because I had already told Him the truth.