I leaned forward, trying to ease off the stinging pain in my back, but to no avail.

Whipped – I had been whipped last night. For what, I didn't have a clue, but I never wanted to experience that again. My own dried tears still stuck to my face. Ever since last night, the Pet Master had tightened my collar, enough so that it made breathing a challenge.

I couldn't breathe quietly, even If I wanted to. I don't know what I did to deserve it. Not only that, but I always tried to do what I was told. Well, when it came to the things, that I could control, that is.

The rest of the pets and I flinched as the lights in the shop suddenly turned on and the loud boom of the door told us that the pet master was entering.

Opening time.

The rest of the girls scooted back in their cage as far as possible the pet master walked by, some even whimpering in cowardice. I just sat there silently, not wanting the pain to return. My eyes only met his for a brief moment before I looked away in sheer fear.

The day went on as normal, vampires coming and going as they pleased. Some left with pets, while others took supplies instead. I tried to make myself look smaller than usual today, letting my red, unrushed hair hang in front of my eyes as I stared at the bottom of my cage, not even daring to look at the vampires that were examining me.

The bell rang as a new vampire entered the shop, and for some reason, I decided to see what had just walked in.

He was tall. He ran his hand through his seemingly naturally waved back, medium length brown hair as his eyes scanned the shop.

His eyes were a deep emerald green, a color that I had rarely seen in the other vampires that come in here. He even had a sharp jawline that nicely framed his face.

Yet another vampire that could easily show up any human man, it was sickening in a way how inhumanely beautiful vampires can be.

"What can I interest you in today?" the pet master spoke to him with his usual lines.

I returned my eyes back to the bottom of my cage, still listening to their conversation. It was just about the only entertainment I had.

"Im looking for a pet." the man said. His voice was low.

"Well sir, I can assure you that we have the finest that this city has to offer. Follow me if you would." the pet Master offered.

Their footsteps steadily got louder as they inched towards us pets.

"Anything in particular that you're looking for in a pet?" the pet master asked the stranger.

I shifted my eyes up just enough to see the vampire lazily scanning over each cage. "Not really."

I immediately looked back down as our eyes met, a sense of nervousness suddenly crashing over me. His footsteps drew closer to me, making my stomach churn.

I would rather not be bought. I would rather not be treated like a dog, only to be treated like a snack as soon as he got tired of me. He bent down, meeting my gaze once more. His eyes squinted as he looked over my body. I immediately squirmed to the back of the cage, letting out an exasperated whine as the expected pain shot throughout my body.

The man's eyes widened ever so slightly at my reaction that I almost didn't even notice it.

"What happened to her?" he questioned.

The pet master laughed. "Ah, her. That one tends to be a bit of a crybaby when it comes to most things." he mocked.

Well, I guess that was one way to put it.

The man stood back up, my gaze following him as he did.

"So, what's with the lash marks?" he asked.

"She wouldn't stop crying, and it was starting to get annoying, so I gave her something to cry about instead." the pet master responded, looking very pleased with himself, "It was quite entertaining, really should have seen it." The pet master just laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.