Faline

Scowling, I try to step back, but her other hand whips out, grabbing the back of my neck. Eyes slowly open to gaze at me again. She didn't miss me, just the feeling I seem to evoke in others. All that peace and happiness junk.

And probably my blood.

"Well, you can stop. You have more important things to do and worry about. Have you heard anything about Nicolaus?"

Startled eyes raise from my mouth to my eyes before becoming annoyed. Recall her covering his scent on me with her own whenever she could. Would always have to wash it off before he caught on and beat me for it.

"After he ran from your sister, he had gone deeper into the house. This is a safe house, so he wasn't hunted down. I have not seen or heard from him since then."

"I'm sure if he were around, you would have at some point. The only reason I ended up in that part of the house was from him chasing me into it. Someone had told him that you and I slept together, and hearing that after being told his last merc failed to kill my sister, he flew into a rage."

Her face hardens while nodding, grip still at my neck while her fingertips play over my skin.

"I heard. He had beaten his wolf and a few of my slaves before going after you. By the time I was told, the fighting up front had already started. Speaking of which, where's Maii?"

The change there catches me out of the blue for a moment.

"He's with my sister, I asked him not to come back here. When I left, plans were being set for him to go to a Shifter school with another boy she has, and papers drawn up for adoption."

She looks startled for a moment before blanking her face, a slight nod given before she pulls me forward.

"No. I am not one of your slaves to be beaten one day then showered on the next. I came back to help you and the animals I made friends with. Helping you does not include playing kissy-face."

A smirk plays over her as she keeps coming. The hand that had been at my face goes around my waist to bring me closer, making my attempt to lean back obsolete.

"You want me civil and open-minded, then this is my price. When you are not doing your 'changes' or playing in the kitchen, you will come here. My bed is where you will sleep."

I scoff. There's only maybe half an inch between our faces, but it's enough.

"Would appear you didn't get the memo; I don't do beds."

She doesn't bother responding with words. Her lips touch down on mine just as I get the last word out. I can't pull away, but I can 'not' respond, which is what I do, or don’t do. Whichever.

Gets my lip bitten, but I still do nothing. A forehead gets pressed to my own after she breaks away, a small smirk crossing her lips.

"Why do you persist in fighting me?"

"Because everyone else kisses your feet or worships the ground you walk on. It irks you that I don't. And if for no other reason? You killed me, why should I accept anything from you?"

She makes a noise of disgust and turns away, letting me go. The move is so abrupt, I stumble back into the shelf.

Rude.

"If they all did as you say, then you would not be in danger. Yes, I want one of them to come at me. I haven't been in a good tangle for ages. The problem here is that they won't come straight to me, they will go through you."

My arms cross as my jaw clenches. Her excuse is a lame one.

"They can try. Don't see why you would care anyway. They try coming at me, I have a few surprises up my sleeve. You worry about yourself and this establishment. I've accepted that it's needed, for many if not all involved, but it can be done better."

Her eyebrows raise high and fast, mocking me.

"You have been a Vampire for less than a month and yet you presume to tell me how to run my home? An establishment that I have run for over a hundred years now? You are quite amusing, my pet."

I scowl at the nickname but then scoff at her.

"It is because you've worked it for that long that it's so screwed up. You're trying to sell something done way out of date. I'm sure it isn't just you that's bored here. Let me switch things up a bit, allow me to show you that there are more creative ways to run this place."

My brows furrow, knowing I used the wrong wording.

"That came out wrong, but I'm pretty sure you get the gist of what I'm trying to say. Can keep doing your selling, buying, trading, whatever, but let me switch some stuff around. Change the look so it's new. Fresh. Pretty sure everyone here would enjoy it in one way or another, which will, in the long run, make you more money."

Can't believe I'm saying it's okay to treat these people like that, but here, it's a way of life. The submissives here want to be here. This is their home, where they feel safe. Them feeling safe here should really tell you what their lives were like before coming to this place. The price exchange of the use of their blood and bodies more than likely what most had already been doing beforehand. Most of the subs here had been out on the streets, whether on their own or pimped. Lady would acquire those that she liked the look of and bring them here.

This 'whorehouse' is where they are gotten off any drugs, and bad addictions are dealt with accordingly. They’re given a constant shelter with food readily available, and the relative safety and security with the comfort of others just like them around. Things had been quite screwy when I got here, all the 'slaves' still very much starving, unable to heal wounds inflicted or perform the way they're told to. One of the first major changes I had done was to start feeding them normally and make sure that if I weren't around, there were those who knew how to cook. Had damn near gotten into Lady's face about how they were treated.

It was originally called my way of paying back for damages I caused but I didn't take it as punishment; finding joy and pleasure in caring for so many, seeing their faces when biting into something worth eating.

"And you think you can accomplish this before you are killed?"

"Are you assuming I'm just going to lay down and let them off me? They may get some licks in, but I will come back just as hard. I promised many here that I would watch over them. I shouldn't have made it, but I did. Can't very well go off and die and leave them alone."

Her wording had annoyed me, basically saying I have a time limit. It may turn out that way, but not from me giving up. Her haughty mocking is even more annoying.

"Was already going to give you a chance on doing what you are so intent on, but my payment stands."

I growl, crossing my arms once more in frustration. Woman is determined I will be screwed in one way or another. Literally.

"Wasn't your big explanation before on keeping up appearances? How's it going to look with me rooming in here while doing everything?"

Her smirk doesn't bode well for me.

"That was before it came out who you are related to and I had already figured out that you were the child of prophecy. There aren't too many who don't know who you are now, so there isn't much point at playing with pretenses. Besides, by going after you, they will also be going against me. Gives an actual reason for me to kill them other than just boredom."

My lips purse hard. I can't, at this moment, think of anything else to try getting around her. Then again, unless dragged in here, I can just stay elsewhere and 'accidentally' fall asleep somewhere or something.

I sigh as if I'm resigning myself, not wanting to let on to my thoughts. If she tries shaking on it or something I'm screwed, so diverting the conversation right now is a very good idea.

"How are you able to get all the stuff you do without any type of communicative means? I haven't seen a decent phone or wires anywhere."

A sly grin emerges, walking towards her desk to the small touchpad of buttons. From what I've seen, both it and a remote control things. Figured it was just the windows though. Pressing a series of buttons, she looks back up, judging my reaction.

"Did you think I sent couriers out? Much here may be old, but not everything."

My mouth drops open for a minute before I close it. A panel on the desk slides to the side as a laptop rises up. It's closed, needing to be since the hidey-hole it sits in is just big enough for it.

Whole time I had been in here before and I'd never seen the seams. Stepping forward on the opposite side, I look at it. One of the newest ones on the market; known for speed and space.

"The image of you on a computer is just all sorts of weird."