Page 124 of Plug and Drain

“Not very pretty, is she?” Henrikk said, finally turning his attention to Arken. He was goading Arken, waiting for him to answer.

“I wouldn’t say so, no,” Arken agreed.

Or disagreed, Susie realised. His answer could be interpreted both ways. It was absurd that even in Henrikk’s presence, with fear racking her body, she still wanted to know what Arken truly thought.

Did he think her beautiful?

Henrikk seemed satisfied that he didn’t and was smirking at his vampire guards who were sniggering.

They were made vampires, she realised. Seeing them laugh made them seem even less lifelike than their unnatural stillness had.

“Haven’t you got somewhere to be, Susanna?” Arken asked softly. Sternly. Impatiently.

Fearfully.

“Yes, I do,” Susie squeaked, bobbing a stupid half-curtsy that she’d only ever read about in books before hurrying for the front doors. “Excuse me.”

“Wait,” Henrikk commanded.

Susie halted.

He crooked a slender finger. “Come here. Let me have a closer look at your eyes.”

Her legs felt like they were made of stone as she forced them forward. As she drew near, Henrikk’s hand snapped out and seized her forearm, gripping her so tightly his sharp fingernails dug into her flesh.

She yelped in pain. Henrikk jerked her closer, leering.

Arken leapt forward to intervene, and Henrikk instantly released her with a low chuckle. He sucked the tips of his nails one by one as if tasting them.

Arken stared helplessly at her as she rubbed her arm, looking as if he was sick. Susie glanced down and saw her arm was smeared red. Henrikk’s fingernails had drawn blood.

She stopped rubbing her arm and put it behind her back. It would’ve been safer to swim in shark-infested waters than have an open wound around a vampire.

“You are dismissed, Susanna,” Arken said stiffly.

Susie didn’t dare look at him. She turned on her heel and left, forcing herself not to break into a run. Henrikk’s voice floated after her.

“Her tail…Is it always like that?”

“I believe so,” Arken answered.

Henrikk gave a delighted laugh, a deep sound that rose to a high-pitched giggle. She heard a single clap of hands. “An abomination! I’m surprised her parents didn’t drown her. But, I suppose someone will want her.”

Mercifully, Susie didn’t hear any more of their conversation as the front doors swung shut behind her. Henrikk’s harsh laughter echoed in her mind as the dim foyer swallowed her whole.

Chapter 31

Remorse

Susie

By the time Susie returned to her room, she was shaking from her interaction with Henrikk. His vice-like grip would probably leave bruising on her forearm.

It stung where his nails had bitten into her, but Arken’s cold treatment hurt far more.

She wanted to see him. She wanted to hear him speak to her like he normally did, and not the way he had in front of Henrikk.

She wanted to be convinced by what was real. Was it an act? Or was the version he’d shown her false?