Now I know what I saw that time when he let a sliver of his memories peek through. I still can't believe that that happened. I wonder if something is wrong with him. Is it Lucian's pregnancy perhaps? Well, even if he didn't mean for it to happen it did.
A lot of things are starting to become clear now. Since seeing that all I have done and can do is laugh at myself. Here I thought that I was the one of Vastava's eye…but…it was really him. I guess it's no surprise. He was born before me and they did seem really close.
Patheos must think about him often. Is that why his and Lucian's relationship is so strained? Hmph, I will only know these answers if I ask him. But more then anything…I'm afraid to learn the truth. Still…did he really allow Vastava to chain him up like that? Why…. are they both into that kind of thing? I've seen it here on this planet too, they call it a 'kink'. I only knew of chaining someone up when they lose control like Lucian used to.
Lucian…. I hope that their relationship gets better…
****
"AAaahhhhhm…mhhpphhhmmm….ah!"
"Louder."
"AAhhhh....!"
"Mmm….arghhhh…."
"So….deep! Aaaahhh….!"
"Lu—cian! Lucian! Mmffph…!"
"Slow down….ahh…"
"Aaaahhhhh…..!"
"Martheos, run the bath please."
"Yea."
On days like this, I always wonder if Vastava is watching. I don't know why I think that. Ever since finding out that he's been on this planet and has so much to do with everything from the time of the crash to now, makes me think of him more. And after finding out about he's ties with Lucian…. It's crazy that I think of him while and after we have sex. He is very different in the way that he handles me and even Martheos. He's gentler than him, but when he picks up speed it's synonymous to Vastava.
They're both psychopaths, at least, that's the human word for Zathiras like them. They're so rare on our planet, we just think of them as zartiahs, a Zathira who is more unemotional then others, have depraved tendencies, and place themselves into solitude when they feel they will lose control or have found someone with whom the sex is their medicine.
Lucian is this way. He's always been. Even though he got pleasure in the past from killing and ravaging humans, sex with me started to calm him down more. I learned that the night I had to stay with him. That's also when I learned that Vastava was here…and so much more.
I'm like an open book to the two of them whenever I'm around them in private. They know what I'm thinking and don't seem to care. Because…I can never let them go.
"Slow your breathing, Lucian." His voice, it made me flinch a little while Lucian continues to kiss me passionately.
I open my eyes a little to see his frame behind the sheer curtain.
"The bath is ready you two."
And just like that! It's gone. Martheos knows that he's been in contact with us and has been inside this room many times, but he refuses to let him see him his face.
*****
"How are the preparations going, Tadanya?"
"Very well, nothing out of place…. nothing a miss."
"Good…good."
"Is anything bothering you, Demetrio?"
"Ah, no…nothing." His eyes flicker slightly. There is something wrong with him. It's probably the fact that Lucian is pregnant with Marques' child. But everyone knows that they are now permanent mates, so it makes sense for them to have one.
I'm sure that Mistress Tadanya notices his hesitant behavior and the fact that he's lying right now. I don't say anything to her about it. I never do, it's not my place to discuss their personal affairs with them and she never invites me to discuss it. But I think she talks to Sebastian about these things. I'm fine with it. I have my own problems. Now that Peter and I are a temporary pair hopefully…things will get better for me.
"Kara, look this over with Peter and the others. Make sure that everyone is on the same page."
"Yes Mistress."
"Oh! And Kara. See if the girls would like to help with anything. They should start learning how to properly set up events like these."
"Yes Mistress. I'll get right on it."
The summer Belladonna Charity Ball. We only hold it every few years so that the humans don't accidently come into contact with it. We do our best to keep them far away from the belladonna garden. Many of the servants know by now not to venture there. The human slaves have also learned not to go near it after that terrible incident a few years ago. The new ones are always briefed on it and are given reminders often.
This year we decided to donate to the Water Charity to help clean water get to those that need it in certain parts of the world.
During the meetings and preparations of these balls we meet with at least two representatives from the charity and fill them in on a few things. Still, the number of humans that know that Vampires exist is small. Of course, we never tell them the truth about us. This is one of the reasons why the children were deluded to believe that we ourselves were vampires. It's actually easier for humans to believe in the existence of Vampires on earth rather than aliens from a different galaxy that have lived on this planet before it was an actual planet.
"We have begun harvesting the plants that will be used for the non-human ball."
"Okay, so all we need now are the bluebells to decorate the tables with for the human one. How did the fermented wine turn out?"
"It turned out well. We have the bitter ones and the sweet ones."
"Good, good."
"Actually, Master Lucian came by to get a sample of the dry bitter wine and liked it."
"Oh! That's even better!" I smile at him warmly. "Thank you for your hard work, Peter."
He nods and bows his head slightly.
*****
"I let Kara know how the wine turned out."
"Good. Let's make sure the labels are in order and then package the ones that will be for sale."
"Yes."
It's always the same around this time every few years. It seems that whenever we have an event, we find things that the Vampires want so we sale it to them. If they really wanted to though, they could easily grow and create their own wines. We make wines from Belladonna, but we also make our own wine that humans can consume. Ah! That reminds me!
"Daniel. Have the human wines been moved to their room?"
"Yes, I made sure myself."
"Okay. The last thing we need is to have a mix up like that! It will be our heads that will roll."
"We haven't made a mistake yet. And the room is properly marked so if a human stumble inside it will be ok."
"Excellent!"
"Well, it's not as though any of them can access this room any way. The last thing we need is for one of the servants or slaves to come in and mishandle one of these."
Placing the bottle in my hands into a crate I look around at the two of them. We have finished our task. Now we just have to exit and seal the room. I'm the only one that can access it. We switch the door keeper every time this ball comes around. Last time it was Daniel. Yes, we have not had any problems since the very first ball with any servants or slaves accidentally coming into this room. Our security is much tighter now that we know how dangerous unfiltered raw Belladonna is to their kind.
Making our own wines for them out of rice and grapes is a plus. At the public ball we sale new and vintage wines to them and hold a taste testing event for those that wish to attend. We have an open bar and the setup is more like a vineyard then a ball. We do have a vineyard in the south of France but we like to hold the ball here at the estate. Only a few vampires work at the vineyard because it's mostly made up of Belladonna. The grapes are kept separate of course, in the front of the vineyard, while the belladonna is kept in the back and in a shade garden below the cellar.
"Everything looks to be going well." I turn after hearing his melodious voice behind me.
Master Marques is beside him. This is becoming habitual…seeing the two of them together.
"Yes, Master Lucian. Would you like to taste a human wine?"
"Yes! Marques and I will meet you upstairs."
"Yes sir."
*****
"Help! Somebody…HELP!"
"WHAT HAPPENEN?!"
"It was him! I saw him! It was…Henry!"
"His breathing is shallow."
"I can see the poison slowly entering his blood stream."
"I will bleed him and get out as much of it as I can."
"It wasn't me! She's lying!"
"It was him .... He came up to us with it and said that it's a dark red wine that's sweet. He wanted Scott to try it first. But as soon as it touched his lips…he started seizing."
"You liar!! Shut up, Jesse! I didn't have that wine! They're both lying!"
"Sebastian."
"Yes, Master Lucian."
"What's going on?"
"One of the slaves gave another one a glass of Belladonna wine."
"What?!"
"...How…how did he get one of those?"
"I'm not sure."
"Father?" Lucian pushes his way through the crowd and runs over to his side.
He's actually worried about him! David is being held back by Master Damarcio. Scott is lifted by Master Marques. He summons one of the doctors in attendance today and the four of them walk down the corridor to head upstairs, followed closely by David and Master Damarcio. I turn quickly to face everyone and have them return to the party.
"Everything is under control." I say loudly. "No need to worry. Please enjoy the rest of the ball."
"Peter, look into how he got ahold of one of those glasses."
"Yes, Mistress."
I go with Kara to the security room to look over the CCTVs and track Henry's every movement.
It looks like he waited for us to set out the wine and grabbed a bottle from the bar. That's the only time that there's open access to it.
"Where's the bottle now?"
"He hid it under the table…there." Says Kara.
"Ah, I see it."
We leave the room and walk towards the table closest to the Belladonna bar outside. I kneel down and reach under the cloth grabbing it in hand. There's a cork in it. We saw on the tapes that he had gave himself enough time to open it and replace the opener where it had been. I knew Henry didn't like Scott, but I never thought that he would go this far.
"Peter?"
"What do you think his punishment will be?"
"I don't know. Something like this has never happened before. And he's from the tribe."
"It's been years since they served. Then this happens."