Abandoning the chore, she sat back and took off her gloves as she broke down once more.Eventually laying on her side when her emotions were too heavy to bear.The bleach stench permeated the air, and it only made her cry harder.This was the last physical remains of her friend, and she was literally scrubbing Marilisa away.
Adalyn laid there, staring at the spot until she had no more tears to shed.Until her head pounded with a headache.She was lost.Adrift in a world that had taken away more than it had ever bestowed.For a brief while, she had a future.Now, she was once more all alone without a direction to steer.
She was done.Without a plan, she had to go with her gut.Rising, she put away the cleaning supplies and made her way upstairs.After a quick shower, she brushed her teeth before falling onto her bed.The weight of her despair dragged her into sleep.
****
Tumultuous dreams invadedher slumber, causing her to toss and turn.Marilisa blamed her for her death, pointing skeletal fingers at her.Adalyn fell to her knees, begging for forgiveness, only none would be given.With a cry, she sat up in bed, and that was when she realized she wasn’t alone in her room, and screamed.
Her heart jumped wildly in fear but then the shadows moved and Lord Huntley sat on the edge of her twin-sized bed.
“Sh, I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Wha...Why are you here?”
He pushed some hair off her forehead.“You have a gift of getting me to seek you out.Why did you come back here?”
“I have to pack up Marilisa’s things,” she replied.“Learn how to sell the building.Please be patient with me.I promise to pay you back for everything, it’s just going to be a little slow.”
“You don’t need to pay me back,” he admonished.“The money isn’t important.”
She blinked.“Itisimportant, Lord Huntley.I don’t want to take advantage of you.I only came to the Crimson Den in order to pay off the debt my sister had accrued.They used Marilisa against me, and now that she’s gone, they have no leverage.”
“You know that’s not true.Those men last night were only soldiers.”
She hadn’t thought of that.“That means their boss still wants the money.”
“Yes, which means you have to come with me.You’re under my protection now.”
She was confused.“Why?I’m nobody.”
He ran a finger over her cheek.“Do you know how long I’ve been a member of the Crimson Den?Longer than you’ve been alive and every night I searched for something.Someone.And then you walked in with innocence and fear in your eyes, but so very brave despite how terrified you looked.I’ve never bought a human female before, so I thought it was going to be only a transaction, but then you gave me my money back.”
“I was only there for one reason, and that was to save Marilisa.”The tears she thought had dried up ran freely once more down her cheeks.She wasn’t going to tell him about her vengeance.“Thank you for taking care of her body.I’m going tomorrow to say good-bye.”
“You’re welcome,” he murmured.“Adalyn, I have an offer I’d like to give you.”
“An offer?”
“I would like for you to become my thrall.”
His offer shocked her.“Oh.Um.Wow.I didn’t expect that.”
Thralls held a special place within society.Technically, they were companions, providing sexual pleasure as well as everything from sustenance in the form of blood to confidential trust.Thralls were bonded to the vampire for life, and in return, were well cared for.It was almost like a marriage, and some perceived being a thrall a tighter commitment than holy matrimony.They had social status and were respected, more than a simple lover.
“You’ll be spoiled with lavish clothes.Jewelry.Trips.Anything your heart desires.”
“That stuff isn’t important to me.”
He smiled.“I know.That’s what makes you so unique.Beauty, bravery, and a heart of gold.You could’ve easily kept that money and bought your way out of this place.But you came back here for a friend, and loyalty like that is rare.”
Adalyn couldn’t wrap her head around that he wanted to be with her.Being a thrall was as high as a human could elevate themselves in the vampire world.She’d never considered it for herself, but Marilisa always said when one door closed, another would open.This tragedy had ended this chapter of her life, and perhaps the next chapter was already being written.
“Could you tell me what would be expected of me?I know there’s sex and sustenance, but what else?”
He smiled.“Yes, sex.You will travel with me everywhere I go.We would spend about half the year at Obsidian North.As nobility, I have certain obligations that require me to stay there for extended periods of time.”
In North America, the vampires established their capital in Canada, named Obsidian North.It operated as a type of parliamentary kingdom, passing laws that benefitted most.Vampires recognized the value of happy humans, since they were the working class.As much as they tried to take care of the majority, some of the human world was neglected.It made the underbelly of cities a perfect breeding ground for gangs to rule.
