I was shaken awake by Iona as she smiled down at me, "Are you ready to go?"
Without a word, I nodded as I weakly stood up, still badly injured from the burns. Iona gently grabbed one of my arms and helped me walk outside; the cold breeze of the early morning felt nice on my burned skin as she gently led me to a carriage that had a male vampire in a butler suit standing by the door and bowed," Hello Lady Iona, who is this?"
Standing cautiously behind her, nervous as Iona gently spoke," Richard, do not overreact; this is Selena."
The man's eyes widened slightly as he sighed," I see. I assume she already had her trial, and you will be taking care of her.``
Iona answered," Yes, I hope my parents and sister don't try to hurt or scare her. She is only sixteen, after all."
Richard's eyes widened, and growled," Those bastards are forcing a young girl, not even an adult, to fight."
Stepping back from the malicious energy radiating from the elder vampire, Iona spoke sternly," Richard, enough."
The energy disappeared instantly as Richard opened the door; Iona immediately walked up the two steps and inside the carriage. She beckoned, and I followed suit, sitting across from her. As she sighed," Sit next to me, Selena."
Moving from my spot, I sat beside her as she continued," How are you feeling?"
I answered softly, looking at the opposing chair," Scared."
She sighed," I figured as much. Richard, you mother fucker, you scared her."
Richard's reply came quickly," Sorry."
Selena turned to face me," Selena, nothing will happen to you. Either way, I must engrave a collar with my seal to show your stature as my pet."
I nodded wordlessly as she smiled," Thankfully, I knew this day would come, so I had one made earlier in the last week."
She pulled out a thin metal collar, and I noticed that it had a pendant at the bottom. I gently moved forward as I moved my long hair out of the way. She gently clasped it around my neck and patted my head while I cringed, earning a look of pity from her as she sighed," Poor child."
She reached towards me with both arms as I whispered," Please stop."
She ignored me completely and gently pulled me in. As I restrained from backing out, she gently rubbed the back of my head as I tried to pull away from her, scared as I only received physical touch when I was being punished.
Iona realized this, letting me go as I brought my knees up to my chest while Iona sighed sadly," Selena, tell me why you are so scared of physical touch."
Shaking my head, I remained silent as Richard's voice," Could it be because of what has happened to her at the hands of the bitch?"
Iona nodded and sighed," Most likely, yes. She tortured her for years, so it is understandable. How much longer, Richard?"
Richard's voice returned immediately," Well, it's only been twenty minutes, so about five more hours."
Iona groaned and sighed," What to do? Selena, any ideas?"
Still in the fetal position, I shrugged as she muttered," Very helpful. Selena, can you turn around?"
Doing as she asked, I felt a cold fingertip on one of the burns. I cringed as she spoke," Can I braid your hair, Selena?"
I responded softly," Do what you wish."
"Selena, you can tell me no," Iona stated," You don't have to be scared to speak up. If you don't want me to do something, say so."
I didn't respond as I closed my eyes and dozed off almost immediately.
I was stirred by an angry voice," Why the hell is she here?!"
Opening my eyes, I immediately tensed, shooting up as I noticed a young male vampire who looked much like Iona growling," Matthew, enough! She is my pet and a child."
The vampire, Matthew, spat," Sister, she is nothing but a threat. Kill her already; if you don't, I will."
On instinct, I immediately closed myself off, showing nothing but a blank face as I stayed completely still as Iona growled," Brother if you don't fuck off, I will show you why I am the current heiress until our sister returns."
Matthew snarled," Our oldest sister is dead because of this so-called child!"
Iona shook her head," No, she isn't; Selena confirmed that. She is alive."
The young vampire, who couldn't have been older than eighty but looked maybe two years older than me, glared at me, red eyes flashing as he glared at me as Iona continued," Either way, you are blaming someone who wasn't even born then! She is barely sixteen years old!"
Matthew calmed slightly and growled," Mother and Father want to see you either way about your...pet."
He disappeared in a swirl of shadows as Iona sighed," That idiot, so impulsive, follow me, Selena, and stay close."
Simply nodding, I expanded my senses, locating six powerful auras. Four of them matched Iona or were similar to hers rather. Two others, not so much Iona, sighed, walking up the steps while I stayed beside her. The guards we passed all glared at me, and the same with the servants. Clenching my fist as my nerves began to fire up.
Iona spoke," Selena, please do not do anything rash. My parents are not so...forgiving towards you for something you didn't do."
I nodded in understanding as we came across two doors; they opened up by themselves as a gust of darkness flooded past us. I held my arms up as I grunted, trying to see, but I kept my eyes shut with the force of the pressure and the darkness.
Iona sighed," Dramatic as always, Mother and Father."
Breathing a sigh of relief as the pressure stopped, a harsh voice growled," Come in."
Iona gently grabbed my wrist, leading me inside as two vampires sat upon a small dais glaring down at us or me. Flinching backward, I averted my gaze as the woman's voice echoed with a small growl," Selena, while we know you have had a trial already, we would like to hear something from your mouth."