It had been nearly seven month since my debut and I had been locked within the house ever since. Other than the small hiccup where the Heir had frozen on the dance floor it was considered a success. I sighed as I flopped back on the couch. My eyes flicking between the group of Pures currently taking up residence in my rooms. At least I had people to talk to now.
"Aren't you bored?" I asked the one closest to me. He sat in one of my wing backed chairs. The color an awful green. A reminder that even though these were my rooms and my things it was not my choice. Alaric had the room set up before he had ever brought me here. I had become a bird in a glided cage ever since.
This Pure was not one I had selected for myself. He had short brown hair with a square jaw. His shoulders both sported thorns that creeped over his chest. What was his name? Mark? Maverick? No. Marcus! Right.
"During wars we lean to appreciate the times when there is nothing to do."
I groaned. The Pures had taken on a rotation schedule. It kept me fed and allowed them to leave the Temple. Marcus was not one I liked but I took what company I could get. He had a wide barrel chest and thick arms. He was also one of the few Nefer Pures who were not Vampire. He was a Giant of some kind. Which was do doubt why he had to duck through the door.
Lincoln leaned down beside me. "Would you like another book?" Where Marcus was big Lincoln was small. Or rather lean. His ears were on display today.
"Can I ask more questions?"
Out of one corner of my room came a groan. Von. Like me he had power to use Dark magic. He used his to disappear into the corners of the room.
Lincoln chuckled. "She is still growing Von. There is much she has to see and more to learn."
Von stepped from the shadows with hair so dark and straight it could have been ink spilled over his head. His eyes were a dark brown. "It is easy to forget that fact when you see what she does with her maids."
I blushed as I jerked up. "I told you to leave us!"
"You are our Mistress. A young one at that and barely trained. One of us will always be with you," Marcus said. "No matter what you are doing."
I leaned back on the couch with a glare. Von shrugged, "I did not think it would bother you so much when your Beloved knows as well."
My gaze jerked back to him. "What?"
"When they leave here they tell him. He gives them a bonus for seeing to your needs so well." My blood went cold. I had spent years getting to know my maids before I had ever tried flirting with them. "Odd considering it seems like they let you give them pleasure and never the other way around." Had spent years growing close to those that seemed the most open to being with me before asking.
Cold rage burned in me. Had Alaric made them? Had he simply paid them to lay under me while I had my fun? Like whores? Had any of them even liked me at all?
The Pures moved as my door slammed open. Alaric. He stood there with concern etched on his face.
"Get out," I said.
"Aurora?" His voice was gentle as he stepped into the room. "What's wrong?"
"I said, GET OUT!" The temperature in the room plummeted. The Pures looked at me. I kept most of my magic contained. I used fire to get the fireplace started. Nature to help in the gardens. Things that took very little magic knowledge or power. Alaric knew I had magic. I had used it in my first and only dungeon. The Pures did not.
Ice spread over the room. Icicles hung from the ceiling. The ice passed through the open door and creeped into the hallway. I glanced at the Pures as Alaric's gaze turned to fear. "You should go. Before I freeze the entire Manor. Help everyone evacuate."
Lincoln moved closer to me. "Your power is no danger to us," he took my hand in his as he said it. His hand was warm to the touch. I nodded before turning my attention back to Alaric.
"Go. Leave before I do something I may come to regret."
"Marcus go help with evacuating everyone. Von get the Lord out of here."
"Wa-" Alaric started to say only to be pulled away by Von. The three of them disappeared from my sight before I could blink. I could feel it. Feel my magic creeping over every inch of the manor. Every hall, window, and chair. It froze clothes and pens. On and on it went until every inch of the manor was covered in my ice.
"They got out," I sighed as I sat back down. His hands ran over my shoulders.
"We thought you knew. It is common practice among Vampire nobles. Even the Royals keep Consorts."
I laughed. It was a bitter sound. "I am not married."
"You have a Beloved."
"A male."
"You do not like males?"
I felt feet stepping into the manor. Not two or three but a dozen at least. Must be the Pures. I couldn't imagine anyone else willingly coming into the threshold of the manor while it was like this. "I think I could like a male. I thought maybe I could like Alaric when we had first met. He was different then."
"He where he stood with you then. If I remember correctly you were ten then." I nodded. "You were a child by your birth races standards as well as his own. As a Vampire fourteen is still extremely young. A child. Your birth race is influencing your instincts to explore. You grew up believing you would be able to marry at sixteen if you found but now you will still be a child. You won't be done growing let alone ready to start a family. It put him in a difficult position. He is your Beloved. He loves you."
"Just because someone is your Beloved does not mean you will marry them. I was told many Beloved are never together in that way."
A scoffing sound came from the doorway. "You were lied to," Cory said. He lead the group. "True Beloved are never far from eachother. Even if they are married to others they need eachother. Even if they hate eachother they will seek eachother out."
"But I don't seek out Alaric."
"He seeks you out though," Von yawned. "We have caught a few times. He watches you when you get snacks or walk the gardens."
I was always watched here, "Do you know what they call me?"
"What?"
"Do you know what they call me? Do you know what the Vampires call me? When they think no one can hear them." They looked confused.
"Lady?" Lincoln said. "They call you Lady of the house."
I laughed darkly and shook my head. "The Beloved Pet. That is what they call me. So much in fact it's listed on my Titles." They reared back like someone had struck them. All of them. "I am a Lady with no lands. A Lady with no friends. Rooms I did not choose and furniture I had no say in. I am not permitted to leave the manor unless Alaric says so. I am not allowed to walk the gardens while the gardeners work.
I wear dresses I hate. I grew out my hair. I sat through lessons and told by those same teachers that there was no need for me to learn any of it. I did all that for what? I am the daughter of warriors. Yet, I have been to but a single Dungeon. Trapped in this manor with no say.
The only thing I had to look forward to was dating. Even that has been taken from me. The maids that I spent so long coming to trust have been lying to my face. The closest thing I had to friends and Alaric was paying them to play a part. If this is a Beloved Bond then I do not want it. For I am but a Beloved pet. A powerless toy that dances for her masters enjoyment," I spit out.
"Mistress..." one of them said.
"Get out. I want to be alone. It's not like anyone can get to me now anyway." They filed from the room and took up positions around the house. My room was windowless or I would have gone to look outside. A bird in a cage. At least now it was one of my own making.