Ensnared (5 page)

Furious, grieving parents file lawsuit against the Richmond family!

A possible truce? Parents invited to inspect mines!

A tragedy! All 98 parents buried alive by explosion!

Mining explosion declared accident by experts!

Richmond family builds memorial in remembrance of victims!

Tears ran down Zari’s face. She wanted to cover her ears as the howls and tears of despair reached her. In front of her, parents sank to their knees as they were shown the skeletons of their missing children, all of whom had died from either sickness or abuse. She cried harder when she saw the moment the parents realized that they were never leaving the tunnels – not alive anyway.

She thought it would end there, but it didn’t, the world twirling around her into something new, something different, and something terrible.
 

Black.

The color of vengeful souls, the color of hatred, the color of death—

Ghosts of murdered parents seeking retribution against the Richmonds. An eye for an eye.

A solitary sheet of newspaper once again drifted down, big, bold
black
letters on the front page spelling the fate of the owners of the mine.

Entire family found decapitated in their beds, mutilated, no signs of struggle!

****

“Come back to me now, pet.”

The words sounded like they came from a great distance. They were repeated over and over, louder and louder, until it roped her back into reality and Zari found herself falling to her knees, a silent scream lodged against her throat.

Frightened gray eyes sought Alexandru.

His first instinct was to reach for her, but he forced himself to remain still, knowing it was the only way to help Zari become stronger. “Breathe slow and deep.” He issued the command in a soft voice.

Zari instinctively followed the order, a part of her recognizing the fact that everything Alexandru – her Master – would ask of her was for her sake. Always for her sake.

She concentrated on breathing, and little by little, the chills racking her body subsided, enough for her to be coherent. “The children…” She started to cry again. “Their parents…” She looked around her, and this time she saw them with new eyes.

“What you saw was from the past, and you’re able to see it because you’re a soul seer.”

She whispered, “I don’t understand.”

“It’s why I was searching for you. You are one of the last of your kind. Most members of your race had been annihilated by an ancient war.” Demons in particular had been responsible for nearly wiping out their existence, but for now, he decided to keep that fact to himself. It was clear that Zari was suffering from shock, and it was best to tackle such knowledge on another day.

Zari rubbed her temples, her head literally hurting at how hard she was trying to understand what had just happened. She said haltingly, “But I’ve never seen something like that before. So why—” That was when she remembered his earlier words.

I’m going to bite you now, just to open your mind a little more and let you see…

She gazed up at him. “Why…did you want me to discover what I am?”

“Because it’s who you are, and in my world, you’ll need your powers as a soul seer to survive.”

The words struck her as both true and untrue. “That’s not the only reason,” she said quietly. “Is it?”

A smile touched his lips. “No. It’s not.”

She waited for him to say something more, but when more than a few seconds passed and his handsome face remained impassive, Zari said, “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

No. He wasn’t. Not when he knew that his reasons could –
would
– hurt her.

He said finally, “Just know it is for your sake that I’ve done this.” He offered his hand, wondering if she would take it. If she still trusted him.

She took his hand.

Again, the pang through his chest, one that felt more and more familiar.

He helped her to her feet, and when she was upright, he was the one who bent down to dust off her knees. It made Zari inhale in surprise. “You don’t have to—”

When he straightened, he murmured, “It’s my duty as your Master to look after you.”

“Oh.”
 

“You’re glaring at me, pet.”

Because the way he was smiling at her was making her heart throb, but of course Zari couldn’t say that.

Alexandru suddenly yanked her to him, causing her body to slam against his. Her cloak parted open, and she gasped at the contact of her naked skin against his fully clothed form. She opened her mouth to yell at him for being a pervert, but he beat her to speaking.

“This is the last time I’ll ask you.”

Zari froze.

In all honesty, he did not want to ask her again. In his mind, she was already his. But he also knew he would not be able to live with himself if he did not give her this one final chance to be free of him. One last chance to live a life without pain because sooner or later, Alexandru was sure he would only make her cry, and it wouldn’t be tears of pleasure.
 

“Are you sure you want to remain by my side as my pet?”

The words had her looking down. She didn’t want the vampire to see how
relieved
she was at what he was saying.

“Zari?”

She said softly, “Yes.”

The world seemed to shift the moment she spoke. When she gazed up at Alexandru, she could see that it was the same for him.

****

It is not politically correct to call human pets as food.

If that was the case, then we pets have the right to call vampires bats with feet.

Zari’s Rules for the Modernization of Relationships between Human Pets and Masters

~ Zari ~

La Scala Legaturia.
 

The words, spelled in molded black steel on top of the gates, supposedly meant the School of Bonds. Since this was a training ground for human pets wishing to serve their Masters well, I had to wonder if the double entendre behind the name was intentional. If most vampires were like my Master, it probably was.

Beyond the gates, a sprawling structure made of ancient red bricks soared against the overcast skies. It would be my home for the next few years, assuming I was accepted as one of the school’s privileged students.

“Scared, pet?”
 

I looked up at the question, and the sly smile that accompanied the words made me lift my chin and say, “Nope.”

It was a lie, of course, and my Master knew it.

He threw back his head and laughed, the rich dark sound echoing in the night like a dangerously addictive melody.

My heart skipped a beat at the sound, and when I glanced back at the vampire, my heart skipped again. I wished it didn’t, but it was no use. Tall, dark-haired, and broad shouldered, Alexandru remained the most gorgeous man I had ever seen in my eighteen years of existence. And since I had become a part of his world? That was saying a lot. Every – and I mean
every
– nonhuman male I got to know had been prettier than me.

My Master clucked his tongue. “You and your lies,” he chided softly. “It is not bad to admit to a few weaknesses, pet. That is why I am your Master.” He spread his arms wide open. “Would you like me to comfort you with my body?”

My cheeks heated.

When I saw an unholy gleam light up his emerald-green eyes, I realized belatedly that I had fallen for his trap. Again. We had been together for less than a week, most of it spent on the road as we traveled from the wilds in Brazil to the mysterious isles of Key West. That much time in his company was enough to make one thing glaringly clear:
nothing
brought him greater pleasure than seeing me blush.

My Master suddenly laced his fingers with mine, making me stiffen in surprise.

Before I knew what he was doing, he had raised my hand to his lips, and my cheeks burned hotter when I felt his kiss on my flesh. “
Master
!” I hadn’t been able to call him that the first time we met, but now, the word slipped past my lips easily.

“I vowed that no harm shall ever befall you, pet, and you must be aware by now that I always keep my word.”
 

I nodded, slowly. It was the truth. He always kept his word, no matter how hard, no matter how gruesome.

“This place shall be your sanctuary. It will give you time to heal and find out what you want in life.”

I nodded again, but this time it was only for show. While I did believe that time could heal, I didn’t think the other one was true. Rather, I didn’t think it was necessary. I already knew what I wanted in life. I was going to be his pet, a damn good one. So much so he wouldn’t ever think of replacing me.

My Master frowned at my lack of response. “Zari—”

The sound of the gates slowly opening interrupted him, saving me from replying. Someone in a black hooded dress came out. Her face was unlined, and I would have thought her ordinary until her smile revealed her fangs.

“Alexandru, welcome.” She greeted him with a curtsy, surprising me.
 

Alexandru bowed in response, and when he looked at me meaningfully, I dropped in an awkward curtsy.

The woman smiled in approval. “You are Zari, I believe?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I thought about it and added lamely, “Milady.”
 

She reached out to squeeze my hand reassuringly. “My name is Lavinia, and I am one of the teachers in this school. You may call me Madame Lavinia, as the other students do.”

Her expectant smile made me mumble, “Good evening, Madame Lavinia.” When she continued looking at me, I found myself curtsying one more time.

She clapped her hands. “Perfect.” She started walking again, leading us inside the school. The gates swung silently shut behind us without anyone touching them. Automatic controls or magic? With this crowd, you just never knew.

“You are quite the fast learner,” she remarked in a pleased tone. “I now see why Alexandru has chosen you.”

My Master’s sly smile reappeared at the words. “Believe me, Madame Lavinia, it is not the only reason I have chosen her. You see, I have also seen her—”

A thought crossed my mind, of Alexandru’s first sight of me, when I was tied to the bed, naked. Panicking, I stepped on his foot, hard. Master or no Master, I didn’t want anyone learning about
that
.

Madame Lavinia glanced at us over her shoulder. “You saw what, dear?”

“I saw her potential right away,” he finished without missing a beat. “She will make me the perfect human pet.” His gaze slid to mine, his eyes just as sly. “Correct, pet?”

“Yes, Master.” I had to choke the words out even though I was itching to yell at him for being so darn mean.

Our hands remained entwined as we followed behind Madame Lavinia. The contact between us kept me from panicking, but I would rather hang myself than admit it.
 

An expansive cobbled road led straight to the school, reminding me of my Master’s earlier explanation about the “training” that I would receive if I were admitted.

Next to the thick, tall walls securing the property was a gatehouse, and when we went inside, I realized that it served as an admission center of sorts for the school. My heart became heavy with insecurities. Could I really make it here?

“Please make yourself comfortable while I get the paperwork ready,” Madame Lavinia said, gesturing to the receiving area before leaving us.

Looking around, I had expected the whole place to look like a kinky fantasy come to life, but so far, everything was just vast and tastefully decorated. This room, for instance, strongly resembled a hotel lobby, with its creamy stenciled wallpaper, carpeted floor, and elegant furniture.

My Master sat on one of the leather couches. When I started for the armchair next to him, he shook his head.
 

“Where do you want me to sit?”