I think Harimah might know something. Something that I've been keeping from her for a very long time. I must've let something slip once. When? Damn. I don't want to explain it. It's not only my fault…. he should've told her after The Serene One announced their pairing. But I guess I can understand his reasons why.
"Ah, Marques. There's always something with your slaves!"
"Is there? I hadn't noticed." I smile with mild content.
"Anyway, Scott is looking better. We got to him in time. We were able to get the poisoned blood out."
I look at him and then to Sebastian.
"What did you do with Henry?" I say, but I already know the answer.
"We gave him about 15 strokes before he passed out. When he wakes we will prepare for his departure."
"Wait. Let's try something else."
"What are you thinking Lucian?" His eyes glimmer playfully. One can only imagine what's going on inside of him right now.
"Ethan, how is he doing?"
"Eh…. well…h…he's doing better. They say…the poison is out."
"Ah! I'm so glad!" Matthew says, holding his chest. He moves to place his arm around Ethan's shoulders. "It's alright. This wasn't your fault."
"How…how can it not be? I'm supposed to always be by his side."
"If anything, Ethan, it's Montgomery's fault for not sticking close enough to Henry." I say to him as Lucian and I approach the room.
I look at them both with reassurance. Lucian opens the door. We let the two of them enter first. Little Lucian is by the bedside changing out the cloth on Scott's forehead. Martheos is standing behind him looking at Scott. All of us surround the bed. The paleness has faded, but he is still in and out of consciousness. No one says anything for a while. Little Lucian feels his face with the back of his hand and adjusts the sheets around him. I turn to see a worried look on David's face. It looks like he just got out of a fight. He's even in his natural form. Martheos quickly wraps his arms around him. He's squeezing him like a ripe grape.
"Is he okay?" He says, looking from him to me with swollen eyes.
"Yes, he's fine." Comes the muffled voice back to him while patting his back softly.
*****
So, what is Henry's punishment? Master Marques decided to place him in the dungeon for a few days. This place is usually reserved for naughty Vampires and Immortals, but he made an exception.
"I think this is too much for a human."
I couldn't help but laugh at Peter's naivety. Humans have done and do far worse to each other. This is just a slap on the hand really. I think he's getting off easy for attempted murder!
"You would think so Peter. But…. after these next few days who knows what will come next."
"Make sure that even the jewelry has been removed." I say to him.
"Yes sir."
"It's not exactly warm down here."
"It's not exactly cold either." I'm looking at Henry's naked back before turning my glance to Daniel.
"He's weeping can be heard at the top of the stairs."
I turn to see Masters Marques and Lucian walking down the stairs making their way towards us.
"It amazes me the tears that he sheds for himself but didn't have a care in the world for what he did to Scott."
He looks down at him with disdain.
"He did shed tears after seeing Scott laying on the ground…but…after reading his mind, it was more from the shock of the results and not from what he actually did."
The sobbing is becoming softer turning into a muffled wail. Watching his shoulders bob up and down with a violent tremor passing through his body reminds me of the time that Young Master Lucian held that rabbit in his hands squeezing its tiny neck in front of Adam when they were eleven. Adam's reaction and the trembling little creature are a vivid memory.
With the way that Master Lucian is looking at Henry right now, I'm reminded of the face that the Young Master had in that moment. …It frightens even me. As I stare at him all that I can hear is the soft breathing from everyone in the room and the soft wails pouring from Henry.
"What will we do with you." He speaks as though talking to himself and looks gently at Master Lucian.
He lets out a small sigh placing his hands on his hips. "He's your slave. I'll leave the extended punishment to you."
"Hmm…. I'm thinking."
This poor human boy. Why did he have to be so stupid? Everyone knew of his jealousy but no one ever thought he would do something like this!
*****
The leather cow whip took me by surprise at first, but then I think back to his kinky room hidden behind the bookcase in Master Marques' office. I shudder though when the first wave of hits comes down on Henry's bare back. The bleeding is instant! Sebastian isn't even using his full strength for fear of killing him.
Master Marques stands by with his arms crossed watching as the whip comes down faster and the screaming gets louder!
Swish…crack…swish…. crack!
I almost feel sorry for him if I didn't know just how much they seem to value Scott. I think it's more because he is now considered the property of The Romanthals whether then being the son of a First Council member. I don't know if its because they tend to change into wolves from time to time…but I've found that most if not all of the people here tend to be afraid of them or respect them as much as they do Mistress Tadanya and Master Demetrio.
Do I fear or respect them? I want to say…fear. Yea, I totally fear them because I've seen them so some shit that I've never seen the others do. I mean…drinking blood is one thing…but…how can I say this…I …I…walked in on them devouring a human that Master Lucian had dragged back to their secret mansion in Basque Country after…he slaughtered half of the settlers in Arcadia back then. I just happened to be the butler that Master Marques took with him in between the building of Edwin Manor. I will never know how they were able to deceive the others about him skipping out half the time to go there and be with Master Marques and his sons.
But that night always replays in my nightmares. I think that Master Lucian did something to me to where even if I think about it none of them can see it. The knawing and chewing of flesh, the sounds of the twins licking the bones…I hear it each time one of them looks at me! I'm an Immortal too…but there are some things that are better left forgotten. But he will never erase it from my memory. It's like a punishment for intruding on their "packs'" meal. Master Marques just ignored it and fixed him something to drink on the other side of the room.
I was tasked with cleaning it up, what blood was left. As for the remains…there weren't any…
I…will always fear them. And I just know…that Alexa…is a breed all her own.
"Daniel, take him to Montgomery and have him treat his wounds."
I was in a daze caught up in my own thoughts again that I didn't notice that the whipping has ceased and Henry is passed out being untied by Peter.
I quickly move to grab him up and carry him to the Sanctorum.
Other than the innate fear that I have of them, it's still so comfortable to talk with and be around Master Lucian. He…. unbelievable as it may sound, makes me feel safe. I'm just glad that I'm on their side!
"And afterward?" I say already knowing the answer.
"Return him home to his tribe." The coldness in his voice made me shiver visibly, I'm sure.
"Yes, Master Marques." Sebastian says.
I go with Sebastian the following week after Henry has healed a bit to return him to the tribe. They were informed by Master Demetrio the day of his punishment and told to send two more in his place to make up for the inconvenience. Poor Henry was allowed to keep his memories….
****
Now that that minor inconvenience has been dealt with, on to our more pressing problems.
"How are the teams doing with the extermination?" I ask after stepping into the security room.
Demetrio and Tadanya are standing next to Kara looking at the monitors. Of course, they don't need to do this, we can just use our second sight to see through the eyes of the Vampires and Immortals of the Yarit. We seem to only do this when we want a closer look into the situation at hand.
"They are doing well." He says, with his arms crossed bending to look at the monitors. "Now that we know what the Drastida cooked up for these mindless hunters we can deal with them more efficiently."
I walk up behind Derick's chair where the two of them are and look at his monitor. I take a quick glance at the other's monitors looking at the other locations of these hunter clans that are now within our grasp.
"Lucian is enjoying himself." I smirk as I catch sight of him swinging a helpless hunter in his teeth before his entire body goes limp and Luc throws him like a rag doll.
He looks up at the Yarit with the camera in their collar and our eyes lock for a moment before he goes after his next prey. I've always been fond of his wolf. I hate that I had to pretend to despise it so much in the past for the benefit of Demetrio and Tadanya.
"That reminds me." Kara begins to say, "How is Matthew doing with the baby Bradley?"
"Oh, he is doing wonderfully," Tadanya says with joy in her voice. She smiles briefly while looking at Kara and then her attention is drawn back to one of the monitors as we hear one of the hunters shouting profanity at our team.
I laugh a bit and just look at him before he is thrown into a shed by Damarcio's tail.
"Matthew will raise him well. Are you going to make him like Matthew by the way?" I say with utmost curiosity.
Being the CEO of the Shanghai branch I'm privy to the experiments that go on there. A file of her covert experimentations on Matthew just happened to past by my desk one day. When I read it, I chuckled to myself quietly thinking back to the mark behind his ear that I caught that time. I should've known. Enhancing humans. If people like these hunters ever caught wind of that…Ah, I don't even want to think about it.
I feel Tadanya's hand on my shoulder. I look up to see her gentle gaze.
Don't worry. By the time that happens, we will have moved to another planet with the enhanced humans.
Damn, I left myself open, huh?
Giggles. Yes. It must have really been on your mind.
I guess it has.
"It's done." We hear Alexander say over the coms.
I watch as Lucian shifts back into his original Zathira form. So beautiful and pristine in his nudity. I unconsciously lick my lips, not caring about the others in the room. I catch Demetrio doing the same in my periphery. Michael gives Lucian his uniform to change into. He could easily make clothes appear on his form but chooses to slowly put them on as our eyes lock again. He loves being watched.
I can't wait for tonight. This time I made sure to put up a block around my thoughts.
****
"I see you've brought back a little trophy." She glances at the bag in my hands and then back to me.
"Mmm…this one was talking a lot of shit, so I thought I would take his head and put his skull on display," I say to her. But at first, I was literally going to skull fuck him, but Damarcio talked me out of it. Fucker knows how to ruin someone's fun! I look over in his direction as I think this and he looks back at me with the biggest grin on his face. Asshole!
I hand the bag to one of the human maids and tell her to clean it well. Trust me, it isn't the worst these humans in here have seen. After the day that I've had, I'm eager for some R & R. I bypass everyone and rush to my room striping along the way as I enter my bathroom. I'm not surprised to see Patheos already there with his hand in the bath that he prepared for me. He made it extremely cold with dry ice just how I like after our missions.
I stand there in all my glory gazing at him. He rushes over to me and plants a deep kiss on my lips, his tongue begging for entrance into my mouth. I let him in so that he can devour my tongue while I tug on his loose curly hair.
"Mmm….ggg…ss.." I pull him away biting his lower lip.
Hopping into the tub I lay my head back on the edge before diving under the water just to come back up and sit there with my head titled up and my eyes closed.
I hear the door to my room open and close. Martheos enters the bathroom doing the same thing that I just did and hops into the tub with me.
"So…did you two have fun?"
"Of course!"
"Mmm…" I hum my answer. I do enjoy it when I can devour a few humans here and there in my wolf form. Sinking my teeth into their bare flesh reminds me of the past. If we hadn't started taking them in as servants and slaves, I would never have stopped my rampages.
Ah, but these stupid hunters…. mmm…I'm having so much fun again...and the meal is an added perk!
"You really missed this didn't you Luc?" Wow! If I didn't have a block up, I would think that he read my mind. But he was always the only other one to be able to read me so well without me saying a word.
"You know I did."
Patheos walks over to me and begins to massage my shoulders. Mm…his hands rub into every crease and crevasse! I open my eyes to peer into his. The deep shade of purple that his eyes take on every so often sends shivers through my body. I smirk and say in a soft voice, "Don't worry, after this, I will ravage you both."
I hear the water move and feel the greedy hands of Martheos on my dick.
"Why wait?" He purrs in my ear.
I grunt quietly as I close my eyes again. Feeling him place me at his trembling hole and slide down on me effortlessly…
We slept peacefully that night. I wake amid twilight just as Sebastian is at my door.
After making me a glass of water from the tray on my black Kahlil sideboard buffet, I wave for him to enter with the door still closed. Others can see past the door when I allow it.
I hold out my hand as he places the lovely skull into it. Yes, just the way I wanted.
"You did very good work, Sebastian." I notice him pass a quick glance over my canopy bed before returning my gaze.
"It didn't take much Master Lucian."
"Oh, Sebastian! We are not strangers. You know that you don't have to use titles with me in private." I grin.
"Forgive me."
I walk past him and place the beautiful black skull on my bookcase that I use for all my trophies. I even have the Golden Phoenix, a gorgeously crafted golden bracelet with a phoenix etched around it and then a medium-sized one for the clasp, that Genghis Khan had craftsmen make for him centuries ago during the years that I spent with him. I also have the original Kama Sutra text that Cisla gifted me.
"To me…" I say as I place it next to the Monkey King's Staff from Shangri-La, "…you will always be the best craftsmen and artist in the world."
"Thank you, Lucian." He lowers his eyes and a small smile appears on his face before he takes his leave.
"Oh and our little secret." I put a finger to my lips and give him a wink.
He nods in understanding then walks out the door.
****
Hmph! I never would've guessed that he was mating with Master Damarcio too. Well, he wouldn't do it without Master Marques' permission, but it looks like no one else knows about this little arrangement. I'm very surprised that he let me see. For someone so vicious I should have my tail cut off. The only reason that I can think of as to why he didn't is for Daniel's sake and for the centuries that I've spent with Lucian myself.
Damn, I feel sorry for anyone else that ends up in his hands. I would be lying if I said that I didn't still think about him sometimes when I'm with Daniel. But if he ever lays a hand on him in that way…we would have a serious problem.
When Susie handed me that head. I laughed hysterically. I couldn't help it. And she just looked at me emotionless, unmoved by my outburst. She did good cleaning the blood and brains out of it and removing the skin. All I had to do was polish the bones of the skull down to the last bicuspid. I sanded and waxed it thoroughly until it was shiny enough to see your reflection in. I had to mix the warm and cool black acrylic to get the beautiful obsidian shade that he loves so much. I even took the initiative to insert two blood rubies that I freshly polished into the eye sockets. I didn't know if he would like it or not, I just took a chance and what do you know! He loves it!
Daniel had let it slip to me once about what he saw all those years ago in that den of theirs. I'm not the least bit surprised by it. It really is his nature. And with the way that Lucian II is, it shocked me to the core that he now has a human pet.