Cecile nods, leaving the kitchen right away as I pop a shrimp in my mouth.
“Does she know she’s working for a house of vampires?” I whisper, wondering if I need to figure out a way to free her.
“Cecile is paid well to do her job. She’s allowed to come and go as she pleases. She knows we’re different, but she’s compelled to never share our secrets, as are all the humans who work for us.”
I hum under my breath, not knowing how I feel about the ethics of all of this.
Samantha seems irritated by my judgment. “She’s paid ten thousand dollars every week that she works here. Please, tell me how many chefs are making that type of income?”
“I suppose not many,” I say sheepishly.
“No. I suppose not,” Samantha says, tapping her black nails against the countertop. “Fuck, I miss food.”
“Uh sorry?” I reply, shrugging my shoulders and stuffing my face. I can’t even really dwell on the fact that they compelled Cecile to some degree, because damn, can she cook. I clear my throat. “The Slayer?”
“Right. Who knows when the first slayer was created, thousands of years ago, probably? The magic is old, ancient, only passed down to small communities over time. I would imagine now that the rituals of making slayers are mostly lost in time. Only a few select families would know how to summon one, create one.”
“Create one?” I question.
“The slayers themselves are so old, just jumping from human body to human body endlessly. We don’t know if they are demons, spirits, or what. What we do know is they’re dangerous and only care about one mission, what they’ve been made for, protecting humans. While vampires have always been the biggest threat because of our bloodlust, and vampires that lack control. But that doesn’t mean other supernaturals aren’t on the table. If the Slayer sees you as a threat, you’re a target.”
“So, the Slayer has a human host, and even if you kill the host?” I question, fear churning in my gut.
This could mean that I’m endlessly in danger, that I’ll have to run from this beast for the rest of my life.
“This is the first slayer we’ve seen in years. Like I said, there are very few humans who know how to summon one. All we can do is take out the host and hope that they don’t get brought back.”
I take a sip of the water bottle that was placed in front of my food; I don’t even know when it got there.
“What about my coven? Are they in danger?”
“I don’t know. Have they been moonlighting with any vampires?” Samantha says, and I glare at her. Meanwhile, her expression doesn’t change.
“No. Not that I know of.”
“Then your coven should be perfectly safe. The Slayer is injured, Warin and the rest of the nest are out looking for him. You’re here because he wants you safe.”
“But why does he want me safe?” I push her.
“I dunno, witch, maybe because you have great tits, or he needs you for a spell. How would I know?” Her response is quick and irritated as she stands up.
Something tells me she knows more than that, but she just won’t tell me.
“Have you had enough to eat? Let me show you around the rest of the house.”
My stomach is full of delicious food as I nod.
“Shouldn’t I contact my coven and let them know that I’m safe?” I ask Samantha as I scratch my cheek. Her hand quickly swats away my hand from my face.
“Don’t do that to your face. The noise is grating. No, not yet. Wait until Warin is back.”
I take a sigh of relief; I didn’t truly want to have to call my friends up, or heaven forbid, my family, and tell them about the complete clusterfuck I’ve gotten myself into. Asking for help? I think I’d rather die.
Maybe Warin will take out the Slayer tonight and it will be a non-issue. I’ll just spend a night or two here, eating Cecile’s food, and getting a much needed break from the fairies.
Samantha shows me all around the massive house, telling me nothing is off limits besides her quarters. She also shows me the gardens and tells me that Warin said I could do whatever I wanted out here.
Part of me wants to grow a bunch of bushes that look like middle fingers or phallic-like, but the grounds are too pretty for such a petty retaliation. Plus, what am I retaliating? Him somewhat kidnapping me for my own good?
